“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."
I saw this sign "Help Wanted: Fools for Christ". I laughed at first - then I thought I about it. I like to think about things. Now, thinking too much about things can be detrimental to our health and add stress and anxiety to our to our lives, but when we think about things that the Spirit within us prompts us to think about, the Lord speaks in ways that only He can. In eight verses, John mentions variations of the word 'foolish' 5 times (more if you count the ones that are implied).
I started looking at the verses I listed above. To those who are already 'dead' inside, the Cross means nothing to them - but to those Who know the power of what happened on the Cross, it means LIFE in the here and now - not just for the future.
The 'religious' leaders of the day - those who followed the law strictly (outwardly anyway), mocked the message of the dying to self - our own wants and desires - of loving others and loving ourselves - of taking care of each other just like we would want to be taken care of. Those who knew Jesus understood His sacrifice was for them and entered into not some 'religious' form of obedience, but entered into a love relationship with Him and with God, the Father. Those of us who know Him by faith (John 20:20 - "Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."), have come to enter into that very same relationship of love. Sure, discipline when we need it, but always love. Jesus loved us all the way to the Cross.
Was Jesus a fool for dying for the sins of the whole world? In some eyes, it saddens me to say 'yes'. But if we had to die for something worth while, wouldn't we die for something we believed in with all our hearts. Besides all the prophecies that foretold His coming, His life, His death, His resurrection, His returning again.... some say sooner rather than later.
I shared one favorite verse yesterday. This is my life verse, given to me years and years ago. It's Romans 14:7-8 "For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."
There can be no greater cause to die for than for following in the Lord's footsteps and doing what He did. Or for doing even greater things than He did - John 14:12 "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." That brings a fire to my eyes and roaring flame in my heart.
When it comes down to it, we're either a fool for Jesus and what He taught or we're a fool for satan (following the world and our own fleshly desires). I know that sounds brazen of me or harsh, but the Lord even says, we can't serve to masters 'either we will hate the one and love the other or love the one and hate the other.' Matthew 6:24 - it talks about money and God, but it's same concept.
We can't have the best of both worlds - with God, we have all the best, including eternal life with Him on a new earth and with a new heaven - the way He originally intended it. With the world, well, what you see is what you get.
I resolve to be a fool for Jesus to today. So, maybe April Fool's Day should be a Christian Holiday :)
God's Own Fool - Michael Card
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