St. Michael Russian Orthodox Church

October 11, 2009

In our world there never seems to be a shortage of fools. Even in Biblical times we find so many of them pictured in the 800k of books. In fact, even though the Bible was written a long time ago, it shows people just the way they were then and just the way they are now. Times change, customs change, but human nature never changes.

The word fool itself means someone who is silly or unwise. It has a greater significance when it is used in the Bible. It has the meaning that the person so described has fallen very low indeed. He has become a person who has lost his value in human society. Among the fools we find in the Bible are those who no longer believe in God. Psalm 14 says, "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God." There was a time when most scientists didn't believe in God. They claimed that everything came into being only through means that were explained by science. Today more and more find themselves confronted with the indisputable evidence of God's hand in the universe. Doctor Arthur Compton, a Noble prize winning physicist, said, "For myself, faith begins with a realization that a Supreme Intelligence brought the world into existence, and created man. An orderly unfolding universe testifies to the truth of the most majestic statement ever uttered, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

How can creation be explained without a first cause? A watch is a very delicate instrument. How does a watch come into existence? Does it somehow evolve from earthly matter? Do the face, the hands and the works suddenly become alive and jump into place? No, you can't have a watch without a watchmaker. Look at man who turns out to be the most intricate piece of machinery in the world. Did man just happen? Did he somehow just grow from a piece of dirt or flesh. No, there is a first cause behind ail of creation. There is an intelligent being called God.

In the 24th chapter of Saint Luke's Gospel he says, "0 fools, and slow of heart to believe.” How can we help but believe in Christ? We know that He is the Son of God. We know that He came down from heaven for our sakes. We know that He died on the cross for our sins. We know that someday He is coming again. Still, lots of people go on in their unbelief. The Scripture has some very unsettling words for those who show little concern for the things of salvation. We read, "He that believes in the Son has everlasting life, he that does not believe in Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God shall abide on him."

Again, there are people who do not much concern themselves with our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, of all the concerns of life that attract and hold their attention their relationship with Jesus is the only thing that ultimately really matters at all When you come, as you will, to the end of the way, it doesn't matter how much money you have made or how high you have stood in the community in which you live. It does not matter how many friends you have or who they are. It doesn't even matter how big a funeral YOll have. The only thing that matters is what you have done with and for Jesus Christ.