This will potentially be a controversial post. People hold a firm stand on traditions that they hold. This week is particularly difficult for me. Let me share one of those things today.
April 1st is known as April Fool’s Day. A day where it is deemed acceptable to pull a prank.
This is where I struggle.
I seek to teach others to follow Jesus’ example, yet on this one day, it seems to be acceptable to forget Jesus’ example and emulate another.
I teach through the year that Satan seeks to deceive us. He twists Scripture, and lures us away from the Truth. I remember verses like:
2 Timothy 3:12-13 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Ephesians 6:11 Amplified Bible
Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV)
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light
Proverbs 26:18-19
Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”
Satan is a deceiver, those who follow him are called fools, or foolish.
I am personally unable to encourage those who I encourage to follow Jesus’ example, to intentionally deceive others on this day, or any day. If I do, then whose example am I asking them to follow?
I’m not seeking a debate on whether one should indulge in April’s fools pranks. What you choose to do is up to you. I’m sharing my thoughts to encourage you to consider a larger picture, a perspective you may not have considered, and decide for yourself.
I leave you with this question…. who are you trying to model in your behavior and actions?
