April 1, 2019 -- I Corinthians 6:9-11 -- Don't be fooled!

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV

When I was a child we loved to pull pranks and shout “April fools”. Mostly these were pretty innocent hoaxes and our poor exasperated teachers had much to put up with; our long-suffering parents would sigh and muster up a chuckle rather than muttering under their breath. All of us knew it was a game that would soon end. I remember clearly one teacher who declared, “All April Fool’s pranks and jokes, tricks and antics must be done by noon or they don’t count!” Wise teacher to get the April fools jokes all out of our system by lunch time.

What is very sad is that mature people, adults, are deceived—not just on April 1st, but completely deceived in their understanding of Who God Is. The Apostle Paul is urgently warning believers not to be fooled, not to make God into their own image. God will not tolerate sin of any kind. He is holy. He is too pure to look on wickedness. Those who are willfully ignorant in their actions and behavior and act as if God will put up with it are more than deceived, they are running headlong towards hell.

Why is God’s treatment of sinners so harsh? Because He has given all sinners, every single one of us, the opportunity to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Our sins are forgiven by Jesus’ accomplished work on the cross. To go back to old shameful ways is to drag down the reputation and honour of Jesus Christ. And the Father has declared: “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him”. When we want the blessings of God without yielding the obedience God rightfully demands of us we are toying with the utter perfect and holiness of God. He will not tolerate this and cannot allow this else He would be complicit with our sin.

The Spirit of God applies the work of Jesus Christ and makes us utterly new. The Spirit of our God reveals to each one of us the very places where we are fooling ourselves and are self-deceived. Today, listen. Today confess the sins you have allowed to linger. Today stop being a fool or fooling yourself. Remember you were plunged into the healing stream of God’s great forgiveness and love. Now, walk according to the will of God our Father and live as His holy people.

Get a prayer partner to help you.

Devour the Word. Read it. Listen to it.

Find someone who will hold you accountable so that you don’t fall into old sinful patterns.

Confess your sin to God and ask for His Spirit to raise you from old habits to new ways of holiness.

Stop being self-deceived.

God, Your wisdom and Your ways are not in-step with what the world calls wisdom. In fact, worldly people rush on as fools and lives as those who are self-deceived. You have given us wisdom in Jesus Christ. You have sealed Your wisdom to our minds and hearts through the Bible and the Holy Spirit. Let the fear of the LORD direct our living. The world will continuously shout at us what it considers true today, and parade the latest fad which though naked will be hyped as truth. Gracious God let the things of earth fade away so that our ears will hear the Spirit and above all din and cacophony of the world discern from the Word all that is True and Right and Holy. Let our Spirit-empowered living be a great witness to You, Faithful Father, and also bring glory to Jesus. Amen.