You and I should be careful not to call someone a fool!  Matthew 5:22 warns us that we are in danger if we do this.
    There are primarily two definitions for fools in the world.  One fool is the person who lacks the mental intelligence to make a proper decision or to have good judgment.  This is due to a mental disability...
    The second type of fool is a person who has knowledge, but chooses to ignore or disregard God and His principles.  This fool has NO FEAR OF GOD!  He thinks he can sin against God and safely get away with it.
    The Holy Bible is God’s inspired Word!  It is our AUTHORITY.  It is our GUIDE.  The Word of God calls some people FOOLS!  In other words, God says that some people are foolish...
Because of limited space, let’s look at just three categories of fools mentioned in the Bible. 
                                                    THE  PHILOSOPHICAL  or ATHEISTIC  FOOL
«The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God» (Psalm 14:1).  Our world around us is full of these fools!  Atheists are abounding today as the lies of philosophers erode the truth of the Holy Scriptures.  Students are now told that the THEORY of evolution is a fact of science.  That is a lie from Satan to deceive mankind.  Only a FOOL would believe the THEORY of evolution.
This type of atheistic fool says in his heart, there is no God.  That little phrase describes the source of the problem.  «The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?» (Jeremiah 17:9).  In the book of Proverbs we are warned; «He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool...» (Prov.28:26).
   Your heart can deceive you.  Emotional feelings come and go influencing our judgements.  However, our relationship with God must be based upon objective faith not subjective feelings. 
«In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth» (Gen. 1:1).  That is a FACT, it is not a theory.  The Word of God has the true facts whether we believe them or not...  God’s word is true whether you accept it or reject it.  The Bible declared the earth was round when the «scientists» of yesteryear insisted it was flat...
    Our systematic universe tells the FOOL that there is a God.  «The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork» (Psalm 19:1).  There is so much design and order displayed in the heavens , it logically reveals the work of the Designer.
According to Romans chapter one, God’s eternal power and His Godhead are displayed through creation so that mankind is without excuse!  The balance of nature, the beauty of His creation proclaim, « Don’t be a fool, there is a God!»
                                                         THE  SELF CENTERED  or UNPREPARED  FOOL
    In Luke 12:16-21, we find a parable about a rich man who had too much!  He had an «I» problem...  «And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry».  There are twelve personal references to self in this parable.  The problem was, he left God out of his life.  The man focused on «his» possessions, and how to keep them, neglecting to see God as the Sovereign One in control of everything...  He didn’t thank God for the blessings.
    Many people make this same mistake.  The rich man had a false security in «his» goods being laid up.  He thought he could rest, and be happy forever.  Notice the Bible says that God calls him a FOOL.  «But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?» (Luke 12:20).  This is everyone’s problem who neglects God!  We must acknowledge the Lord, and seek His will in our lives.  Only a fool does not prepare to die.  Only a fool believes he can avoid facing his Maker one day.  «And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment» (Heb. 9:27).
                                                         THE  DISOBEDIENT  or REBELLIOUS  FOOL
    The greatest sermon ever preached is The Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew chapters 5 through 7.  Here we find the «Beatitudes» for Christian living.  The Lord Jesus delivered a new standard of life different from the old Mosaic law.  We are not to take a vengeful «eye for an eye» approach to those who do us evil, but rather «turn the other cheek».  The law states, if you kill someone this is murder, but Christ said, «That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment» (Matt.5:22).  The law says, premarital or extramarital sex is adultery.  But God says, «That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart»(vs.28).
    This beautiful sermon describing the true Christian perspective of life takes three chapters in the Bible.  In chapter 7 the doctrine of salvation is taught, and we are told that «...Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven»(7:21).    At the conclusion of the Lord’s message He categorizes His listeners into two groups, the wise and the foolish.  «Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock» (vs24).
    «And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand»(vs.26).  Many people have heard the Word of God, but stubbornly rebel in disobedience to the Lord!
    Dear friend, I urge you today, don’t be foolish, be wise.   Be wise, call upon the Lord in prayer today, and receive the Holy Spirit into your heart!  If you are not saved, building your eternal house on the Rock, which is Christ, then you are on sinking sand...
    The wisest man that ever lived was Solomon.  At the very end of his wealthy and full life, having had everything this world has to offer, said, « Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man»(Eccl.12:13).  «For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved»(Romans 10:14).  Call on Jesus today, right now!
Why not bow your head now and pray while you have the opportunity.  RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE TIME TO PRAY!  If you don’t know how, you might pray something like this:   «Lord Jesus. I admit that I am a sinner and I could never save myself. Please forgive me for my sin.  Thank you for dying on the cross to pay for my sins.   I need You and I am trusting You and You alone  for my salvation!  Save me dear LORD!  Amen!»

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Tom Meador