When is April Fools’ Day?

Ok, first things first, we all know April Fools' Day is coming.  And if you have anyone who is young or even young-at-heart around you, then just expect some kind of prank.  Please consider yourself warned :).

Even though April Fools' Day is not a national holiday, it is recognized by many nations around the world as a day to play jokes on each other.  As you might imagine, some countries have different customs.  In Canada, they traditionally play jokes on people only until noon.  If a person plays a joke after that point, everyone else will call him an "April fool!"  In France and Italy, people will secretly try to tack paper fish on each other's backs and will shout, "April fish," if accomplished.

April Fools' Day certainly is a silly but fun day.  It's funny that we are always trying to make each other look like "fools" on this day.  Interestingly, as I thought about this holiday, I came to realize that God actually talks about April Fools' Day.  Even stranger is the fact that there are people who will "celebrate" it every day of their lives.  What day am I talking about?  It is the day when a person blatantly refuses to believe that God exists!  Psalm 14:1 and 53:1 proclaim, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines the word fool as "a person lacking in judgment or prudence."  We may play jokes and call each other "fools," but the real fools in this life or those who refuse to look at the staggering amount of evidence around us and still proclaims, "There is no God!"  These are truly people who "lack judgment and prudence."

Unfortunately, even believers of God can forget about Him and ignore the evidence.  When we forget and ignore God, it often results in falling away and turning to evil (Psalm 14:1ff, 53:1ff).  Just take a look at the nation of Israel in the book of Judges!

Let's never deny or forget God.  We would be foolish to do so.  This is why it is so important to keep reminding ourselves of what God did for us (John 3:16) and what He wants from us (Acts 2:37-38; Matthew 7:21-27).

Please enjoy a safe and fun April Fools' Day, but by all means, let's never become the fools that God talks about (Psalm 14, Psalm 53).

-- Brett Petrillo