‘For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.’ (1 Cor 1.18 NIV)
I recently heard a story of how a man called John came to follow Jesus. He had been learning a bit about Jesus and was considering what to do about it. One evening, whilst in his friend’s house, he fell to his knees, began sobbing, and invited Jesus into his life. He was as surprised as anyone by this turn of events.
Whilst all this was going on, a memory of a time long passed came to his mind. He remembered being in a park in LA trying to find an old friend so he could borrow some money. As he was waiting for his drug-dealer friend he saw a man walk by wearing a sandwich board. On the front it read “I am a fool for Christ”, on the back simply “whose fool are you?”
At the time John thought this was stupid, but when on his knees in that living room he realized that Jesus was asking him the same question; ‘Whose fool are you John? Will you be my fool?’ He said ‘yes’ and God worked through him in amazing ways.
As I heard the John’s story I sensed that God was asking me the same question. I was moved and if I am honest, terrified. Am I really willing to be Jesus’ fool? Am I willing to let go of all other symbols of identity and abandon all I have to him? Am I really willing to let go of my reputation, of my attempts to make people like me? I want desperately to say ‘yes’ to this question but it is so difficult to do. It involves putting to death many other things I have held dear for a long time now. These other things are described in the bible as idols. They set themselves up against God and rob us of the truest life that can only come from submitting to him, and becoming his fool.
We are all someone’s fool. Maybe we are our own fool. Maybe we are pursuing our own agenda for success with the trappings of Christian discipleship. Or perhaps we are swallowing the world’s agenda hook, line and sinker. I know I have done that for a long time. But the goal of this Jesus thing is to give everything up to Him in order that He might work in us the thing that is really life – his abundant life.
I’m a fool for Christ (in training).
Whose fool are you?
Whose Fool are you? Has I look my fool is Society. Has I look back at my past years I have noticed that my past choices have been to fit in, to go with the flow. I find myself buying clothes, and apparel to make me look like I belong instead of being a fool for Jesus and listening for where he wants to lead me.
Has Jonny puts “Good community really helps too.” The hardest part I find is getting connected with that community and getting that feeling that you can fit in.
Thank you Jonny. The only problem is I am in Colorado. I meet my fiance tomorrow night for the last time before she leaves to be with her new boyfriend. My last chance to say goodbye. I am doing it right before church, so that I have good community to fall into right away. Any prayers or words of advice you have are always welcome, I wish I was closer to RockHarbor.
Thanks for being so honest Ryan. My experience is that these things take time, but that Jesus really can change lives. In fact, he always does. Good community really helps too. It’s a way to get some help from others who have walked the same path. We meet Jesus, in part, through others who know him. I would be happy to get you connected or hang out sometime to talk more. The journey of letting go really is a journey. It’s a step-by-step thing. We/I would love to help in this. Jonny
If I am honest, I am my ex-fiance’s fool. I have given my life to Jesus, recently, because I didn’t know where else to turn to try to fill the gaping hole in my life opened by her leaving. I would love to stop being her fool, and be a fool for Jesus, but I don’t know how, or that I can if I knew the way. Something gone is still so hard to let go of. I guess this is the point of our human struggle, constantly giving up things to Jesus, for Jesus.