The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

When we think of a fool, we think of those who deliberately break the law, refuse to wear seatbelts, or anyone dumb enough to jump off a cliff into the water, without making sure there are no jagged rocks just beneath the surface. But to the believer, the fools are the atheists…those who deny the existence of our God—the God we know to be real, alive, and active. 

But sometimes, we reject God, too. When we put our hope in ourselves and trust our own judgment more than we trust God, we might as well wear T-shirts with “ATHEIST” emblazoned across our chests. Because following our own path, or doing what the world considers wise, can lead to destruction. We don’t have to join an atheist club or even verbally deny that God exists to become practical atheists. We simply have to live our lives as if He doesn’t exist, as if we don’t need Him to exist. 

In the Old Testament, the opposite of foolishness is not intelligence or wisdom…it’s deep devotion to God. Perhaps you look around you and think, “Well, at least I’m not THAT bad, in fact I’m a pretty good person compared to all of them.” If you do, here’s the bad news: Jesus doesn’t grade on a curve! Either you are deeply devoted to Him, or you aren’t. There are no exceptions. 

We all fall short of God’s perfection. That’s why Jesus came. Other religions may grade righteousness on a curve, but Jesus grades the righteousness of believers on a cross. The message of the cross is what matters and Jesus is your standard. Rather than comparing yourself to those around you, get your eyes on that glorious cross that leads to life! You are loved!