An April fool for Jesus
Happy April Fool’s Day. Hope you’re wearing something green. Oh no, that was St. Patty’s Day. Forget it. “What kind of fool am I...?” Please don’t answer that, or write a letter of complaint to the Daily Bee. I could go on, but it would only make me look foolish … and who wants that? Would it surprise you if I said that I do? Probably not, by now. Well, I have been, all my life …
Literally, my first memory is of April Fool’s Day when I was 4 years old, in 1957. Are you calculating my age? Save you some time — I’m a 63-year-old fool. Born on Dec. 23, 1952, I was the last of four children born to Warren and Nina Pomeroy, pastors of the First Church of God in Eureka, Mont. During their 18 years of pastoring in Eureka, they had an evangelist from Post Falls conduct revival meetings seven different times — the Rev. Charles A. Watson (who wore an apron bib with a rooster on it at the dinner table, and whose favorite piece of chicken was the neck). At the end of one of his fiery, “fire and brimstone” messages, I found myself burrowing into an already crowded altar of like-minded repenters. I gave my heart to Jesus, and invited Him in as my Savior and Lord, and haven’t looked back since.
I don’t know what your first memory in life is, but I haven’t found anyone else yet who’s had the same as mine. I have always considered it a unique privilege and blessing, and though I haven’t always lived up to it, I know that my life has been the better for it. And believe it or not, I’ve also done my best to live up to my April Fool beginning. Most people who know me think I’ve done a pretty good job, but I’m actually referring to a serious spiritual endeavor.
To be clear, I am not encouraging myself or anyone else to purposely act like an idiot, or make unwise choices that are clearly foolish, and have negative consequences (I do that enough unconsciously). The Bible repeatedly warns against such choices and behavior. But what I am encouraging, and consciously strive for, are choices and actions that are honoring to God, but may seem “foolish” to others. The Bible is also full of such examples, not the least of whom was Jesus Himself. Many of the prophets leading up to Jesus were considered fools by the people. (Hosea 9:7 - “Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool , the inspired man a maniac.”)
The Apostle Paul later wrote about the “foolishness” of Jesus and the cross, and those of us who are “foolish” enough to follow Him: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. … 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. … For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. … But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians1:18-27) … “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (2:14) … Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool “ so that he may become wise” (3:18).
Well, we each have to make our own choice. “But as for me and my house …” we’ve chosen to be “fools for Jesus” (not just in April). We’re a “strange” bunch (1 Peter1:1, 17; 2:11). Won’t you make the “foolish” choice and join us?
Pastor Jon L. Pomeroy is pastor at the Sandpoint Church of God, 221 S Division Ave., Suite A, Sandpoint, He can be reached at 208-263-6629.