It seems anymore there is a holiday for just about everything and everyone. There are memorials to well known figures from history (ie. US presidents and British queens), days which commemorate special relationships (ie. mother, father, grandparents), and days to celebrate different activities. In fact, one website labels today as "National Repot Your Plant Day". I had no idea!

Just a few days ago, the intensity of practical joking spiked worldwide, as we "celebrated" April fool's day. Even I fell prey to one of these jesters. A bit of clowning can be fun, so long as we keep things pure and without offense.

The original intent of the phrase "April fool's day" is to reveal that one person has been fooled or tricked by another. However, not so long ago, a good friend spoke wittingly about April fool's day in a different light.

The Psalmist wrote, "The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good." (Ps 14:1; 53:1).

It is amusing to jest about the atheist having his own special day, but at the same time, we must acknowledge the seriousness of their error. What a disappointment that a man's heart might be so hardened by sin that he would refuse to admit the existence of the Creator. And more serious than this, the failure to recognize that we are accountable for our actions upon this earth, and will stand before God in judgment.

It is easy for the child of God to see the err of the atheist, but let us not be too quick to pat our own backs. There are countless warnings in Scripture that one who is believing ought to beware, lest they become unbelieving. The Hebrew writer uses Israel as an example of those who turned from the God of creation to unbelief (Heb 3:12). I'm sure, had you asked the average Israelite in that generation whether he believed in God or not, he would answer with a resounding "Yes".

Why then are they spoken of as unbelieving? They did not heed the will of God. They did not do according to His commandments. They determined to walk in their own way, and in the process left the LORD behind.

Friend, we could do the same. Paul, having used Israel as a example for the Corinthians warned, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor 10:12). If we choose to direct our own path, and ignore the LORD's instruction, have we not as much as said: "There is no God"? For we, as the atheist then fail to glorify the Creator, and forget that a judgment is impending.

If we're fooled by tricks and pranks – so what; but let us not bring destruction upon ourselves by fooling ourselves with unbelief.

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
Did the city of Ai exist after Joshua destroyed it? Joshua 8:28 says that it was never rebuilt after Joshua destroyed it. However, Nehemiah 7:32 says that it existed in the time of the Babylonian captivity. Is there a contradiction?