Don't be a Fool

The fool says in his heart,  “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.

(Psalm 53:1)

Meditation

I used to be a fool. I believed ancient men created God in their own image, instead of God creating man in his own image. I believed only weak-minded people needed a reason and a cause for our existence. I accepted secular science’s explanation for how we got here. I foolishly derived my worldview from the irreligious society without even examining what the Word of God has to say. I made fun of people who proudly lived by their faith. I would debate with anyone who was willing, to prove they believed in a god that I thought didn’t exist. I reasoned there was too much wrong with the world to believe in any kind of supernatural being in control. After all, I believed what the vast majority of the world believed. How could so many other people be wrong?

The real truth is, I secretly knew there was a God, because I learned about and believed in him when I was a child. My God-fearing grandparents lived right across the street and took me and my siblings to church every Sunday. We moved away from them when I was 12, but they were responsible for planting the seed that finally produced fruit some 32 years later. My grandfather died when I was 20, but I’m sure he and my grandmother were praying for me through many of those years. Later my saved daughter, joined the prayer effort. Those prayers, seeded into my life, were answered when I accepted Christ’s offer of salvation on October 30, 1998. On that night, I left foolishness behind. I put an end to my rebellion against the God who gave me life. I accepted the new purpose God had for my life.

Of course, after I was saved, I realized how foolish I had been. I was filled with both regret for my past and jubilation for my future. I knew I was forgiven, which gave me great joy, but I wished I had come to the Lord earlier in my life. I wasted so many years thinking I was smarter than all the people who knew Jesus. I regretted my godless assertions to whomever I may have influenced in my zeal to prove myself right. I know I’m not the worst sinner to realize the truth and come to Christ, but that’s not much consolation for me. The only thing I can do now is, do everything I can to make up for my thoughtlessness. Now I pray I will be as outspoken with sharing the gospel as I was when I was so foolish.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father you are a God of promises. You keep them without fail, and we can always count on you. Yes Lord, we were foolish to say there is no God. We were doing terrible, vile things then. We were lost souls looking for something or someone to fill the void in our cold, empty hearts. In our foolishness, however, we always turned in the wrong direction, or continued to make the same mistakes over and over. It didn’t matter how often we stumbled, we failed to acknowledge you in any way. Even when we’re steeped in rebellion against you, you do not fail to forgive us when we repent. When we are at the peak of corruption and wickedness, you think us worthy of saving. Father we pray for those who have failed to seek your face. Give us the words and courage to share the greatest news ever told with them. Thank you, Lord, for forgiving us of our many sins, and giving us the blessed hope of eternity with you in heaven. We pray in Christ’s holy name. Amen!