I Corinthians 1:21-24
“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
God’s wisdom and that of the world are different. It’s like a different language. Maybe even greater. Like a horse trying to communicate with a fish. God knows what the world is saying, but not the other way around.
This is a choice that people make. Romans 1:21 says, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.” That was the break. They chose not to honor God. God is light. As they turned their backs on Him, their world became dark. The more they reject Him the more darkness they plunge into.
What’s odd is that they don’t know it. They may even feel more wise. The next verse in Romans says, “Although they claimed to be wise they became fools”, (v. 22). It’s worse than just going into darkness, they become fools. Not according to their piers, but God and His children. If they don’t repent, they will say it of themselves one day.
The unbelievers unite against God and His children. They claim that we are the fools. They mock and persecute us. Hollywood gets away with it less, but they mock believers. They portray us as fools in their movies. The universities do it too. Behind them is the devil and the demons. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” That sounds like an army. Organized ranks of evil with a power structure.
Is the devil blinded in his foolishness like humans are? I’m not sure. He must know that God wins. Does he have hope to turn it around? Maybe he doesn’t have the patience and foresight to do the long game. He thrashes out at what is at the present. He is the king of fools.
Believers can be foolish. Whenever we disagree with God, we are turning our backs on Him. Thus choosing darkness. We can digress down the fools path. Fortunately we have the Holy Spirit who will convict us of sin. We can go far and long down that path. Much destruction can be wrought. Thank You, God for Your patience and persistence. You leave the 99 to find the lost one.
Help us to have pliable hearts that accept correction and turn around quickly. Foolishness wants. When we get what we want due to disobedience it turns bitter in our stomaches. You will wait us out. Thank You, God. Help us to be wise and quick to turn to You.