Foolishness in April

Carolyn was (is) the April Fool-er in our family. She is the one who would be awake and move through the house early in the morning on April 1st wrecking havoc wherever she went. It might start with me. Usually it would be about some overnite equipment or appliance failure. "Marty, wake up! The Dishwasher overflowed all over the kitchen last night!" or "There is no hot water in the house!" Or "That big oak tree fell across the driveway and we can't get our cars out!" I would leap to my feet already to put my best problem-solving techniques to work, until I would catch a glimpse of Carolyn snickering in the corner!

Then she would move to Tripp's room (me close behind, just to watch her get another victim) and she would say: "Tripp, time to get up --- OH MY GOSH, look at that SPIDER climbing on the wall there! (Tripp is very afraid of spiders - by the way)" He would leap into the air and out of bed - with Carolyn laughing hysterically! Then the 3 of us would creep into Bobby's room, and watch the master at work once again: "Bobby, did you forget to turn the washer on last night, I think your clothes are still dirty?" Once again the victim would leap to attention while the torturer and previous victims would be rolling on the floor in pure hilarity! April Fools day had arrived at our house once again.

God had to have the same type of humor himself. Just think of the Tower of Babel. People from all over the world coming together, speaking the same language, trying to get to God - on their own strength. With one swoosh of his Word all peoples began to speak in many languages so that no one could understand the other.

Then there is poor Samuel, a small voice calls "Samuel, Samuel". Samuel trudges down to Eli's room and says "Yes Eli, I am here!" Eli says, "Go to bed boy, I didn't call you." Three times this same thing occurs. Finally Eli says: It's not me, boy - it's probably God, next time ask Him what he wants." Then there was Enoch who was walking with men one minute and then walking with God the next! God has a huge sense of humor all through the Bible.

Then in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Paul writes about God & Foolishness. God's foolishness in wiser than all of man's wisdom put together! The folly is in the fact that even since the Tower of Babel man continues to try to get to God on his own. And God must just laugh!

But God has (at least) one more act of foolishness. He allows one man (His Son Jesus Christ) to die in humiliation. On a cross, a death of a common criminal. so that all of us who ask for mercy & forgiveness from Him shall walk with Him for eternity.

This Gospel message is just foolishness!