April 1 – all of us have played April Fools’ jokes on friends! All of us have felt foolish when we fell for an April Fools’ joke! The origin of April Fools’ Day is unknown, but theories place its start hundreds of years ago. Some theorize that the idea of April Fools’ Day dates back to ancient Rome and a festival called Hilaria held at the end of March, where people would dress up in disguises and mock or imitate others.
Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales (1392) contains the first recorded association between April 1st and foolishness. The timing of April Fools’ Day is suspiciously close to the Vernal Equinox—this year on March 20. It is the time of year when “Mother Nature” is known to play tricks on us all with unpredictable changes to the weather.
All of us feel embarrassed when we fall for an April Fools’ joke even though it probably was an innocent incident that does not have long-lasting results. But, when God calls one a “fool,” it is serious! The Bible is filled with passages which speak about fools. Note a few of them and the consequences of one being a fool.
One Is a Fool Who Does Not Believe in God
Twice in the Psalms the writer says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (14:1; 53:1). Unfortunately, in our nation the number of atheist and agnostics is growing. There are two sources for evidence that there is a God: (1) Natural, and (2) Supernatural. God says people are fools because they refuse to believe the evidence. Paul spoke of the “Natural Revelation,” “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood though what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). David wrote, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1).
The design of God can be seen in the heavens. We have just the perfect elliptical path around the sun. For each 18 miles the earth travels it moves one-ninth of an inch off of a straight line. If this were changed to one-eighth of an inch we would burn up. If this was changed to one-tenth of an inch we would freeze to death. We also have just the right mixture of air to breath – if the mixture was changed, we could not survive on this earth. This is a natural revelation that proves there is a God.
The supernatural revelation is the Bible. Throughout the Bible we have evidence of the power of God. He has recorded numerous evidence that He exist.
The consequence of not believing there is a God and being obedient to Him is the greatest disaster ever! The Holy Spirit revealed, “The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Truly, one who does not believe in God is a fool!
One Is a Fool Who Does Not Use Money Wisely
Jesus said, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). He then went on to tell about a man who prospered, but did not think of anyone but himself. The only thing the prosperous farmer thought of doing was, “I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many good laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?” (Luke 12:18-20). Jesus’ conclusion was, “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). Is the way we are handling our money proving that we are a fool?
One Is a Fool Who Will Not Learn
Numerous passages teach that those who will not learn are fools. One of the most graphic passages to illustrate this is Proverbs 26:11. Solomon wrote, “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.” All of us have acted foolishly at some point in our lives, but we do not want to be like the dog that eats its vomit by failing to learn. Let’s not repeat our foolish actions, especially in our relationship with God.
Conclusion
It may be embarrassing to be caught in an April Fools’ joke, but that is nothing to the consequences when God calls us a fool. If God were to speak to you today, would He call you a “fool” for any of the reasons mentioned above? There are two foundations in life described in the Bible as one who builds his or her life on Christ and His word, or one who hears the saying of Christ, but fails to act on them. Jesus closed the great Sermon on the Mount with that illustration by saying, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand” (Matthew 7:26). Are you foolish or wise?
— Wayne Burger