A WORD FOR TODAY, April 3, 2025
Peggy Hoppes
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Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, April 3, 2025
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse. Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things.” Romans 1:18-23, WEB
I didn’t address April Fool’s day on Tuesday. I did see several posts on Monday that warned readers not to believe anything they saw on April 1st. I have been fooled in previous years by posts from some of my favorite retail establishments or fast food joints. I’ve seen posts from friend that made me think twice. There’s a post that is put out every year about the “bluebonnet rattler,” a rattle snake that has adapted to living in the bluebonnet fields by becoming blue. I confess that I was amazed the first time I saw it, until I realized that it was April Fool’s Day. I didn’t see that post this year. As a matter of fact, I didn’t see very many posts on Tuesday. They didn’t show up until Wednesday, a day late. When the post didn’t make sense, I checked the date it was posted and realized it was a joke.
Most of them were just silly this year, easily understood to be a joke. This is good, because sometimes we need a little laugh. The best joke came from Dinosaur Valley State Park, which is in Glen Rose, Texas. The park has several large sculptures of dinosaurs, and the post showed Bronto, an extremely large (lifesize?) brontosaurus had escaped the park. The comments under the post were hysterical as everyone claimed Bronto was in their neighborhood. The best responses, however, came as the other state parks began posting photo shopped pictures of Bronto in their parks. Bronto was sighted all over Texas this week. It made me laugh and wonder if it was a planned joke, or if the other state parks jumped into the fray on their own.
April Fool’s day is a day filled with foolishness. People like to play practical jokes on their family and friends. How did this tradition get started? It is likely that the tradition began in medieval times, when the Gregorian calendar was established. Before the mid-16th century, the Europeans celebrated New Year in the springtime, around April 1st. In 1564, King Charles IX of France accepted the more accurate Gregorian calendar, which placed New Year’s on January 1st. Some people were too stubborn to change, or they had not received the news of the change, so they continued to celebrate on April 1st. They were called “April Fish.” They were looked upon as fools and were targeted with foolish gifts and invitations to celebrations, which were not happening. Eventually everyone accepted the new calendar, but they continued to play pranks on April Fool’s Day.
Most jokes are just harmless fun, but not all jokes have a happy ending. Some people go to great lengths to plan and execute practical jokes, but at times they end in pain and heartache. It may be funny on April Fool’s day to cause someone to be a fool, but in the kingdom of God it is better to be wise than to be a fool. This is certainly what we’ve been learning in our study of the Book of Proverbs.
Paul tells us that the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Are we at a time when foolishness is creeping into the hearts and minds of men? There are many religions, even some that call themselves Christian, that have turned from the one True and Living God. They do not teach the truth of the scriptures or the message of Jesus Christ. They have traded the Gospel for something they desire: doctrine that tickles their fancy and touches their flesh. Many preachers today are teaching wealth and perfection, Gnostic ideas about special knowledge from God. They are teaching the people to walk away from Christ s body the Church, to forsake the scriptures and commands of Christ and to live a spiritual existence that seems right but is actually separate from Christ. Satanists and other non-Christian religions are giving the appearance of truth, drawing people into their lies.
Chasing a dinosaur all over Texas is fun, making us laugh at the joke, but how many ways are we living lives that do not glorify God? How many ways is the world causing us to turn away from our Lord? The truth of God, the incredible grace, mercy, and nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Power of the Holy Spirit are clearly seen, not only in scriptures but also in the creation. Are you wise, or a fool? Do you truly know God, or are you following the images created by men?
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