Ah, April Fool’s Day. April Fool’s Day has become a day when people seek in some way to pull a trick on or to fool friends and loved ones in some way. How did this tradition come to be?

Though there are several versions, the observance is said to have originated in France after the adoption of the Gregorian calendar instituted in 1564 during the reign of Charles IX. France was the first nation to adopt the new calendar. Up onto that time the New Year celebration began the first day of spring and ended April 1. When New Year’s Day was changed to January 1, many people still celebrated the New Year as before ending their celebration on April 1. These people came to be known as April fools. The custom of fooling friends and relatives on that day became popular in France and eventually spread to other countries.

I don’t know if anyone has pulled an April Fool’s trick on you or not, but one thing is for sure our old Foe, the devil, is fooling people everyday into falling for his tricks. Don’t be fooled by the enemy. Paul warned us not to be ignorant of the devil’s tricks. Paul used the word “devices,” which means cunningly thought-out plans (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Satan fools lost people into thinking they don’t need Jesus or that they have plenty of time to “get right” with the Lord. Christ on the cross made provision for our sins to be forgiven and for our acceptance before a Holy God, but we must appropriate His finished work on our behalf by embracing Him in faith. However, the Bible warns us not to be fooled into the thinking that we have plenty of time when in actuality we know not when our last heart beat will take place. That is why we are told, “Prepare to meet thy God,” (Amos 4:12) and that “today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). To think otherwise is to be fooled by him who Jesus called a liar (John 8:44).

He fools Christians into thinking maintaining a vibrant Christian faith is not important, Bible reading, worship  and prayer are not necessary, using our talents for the Lord not essential, and living a consistent Christian life in this compromising day is out of step with society. Our Adversary puts temptations before us that may seem innocent at first, but in the end will short circuit our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We can be assured when the great Trickster of the ages seeks to point us down a road that seems smoothly paved we can rest assure it will not be long before we discover it is full of potholes.

He fools Christians into thinking that because we are going through some trial that the Lord has abandoned us. He whispers in our ears, “If the Lord really loved you, you wouldn’t be going through this trial.” You have heard that, I know I have. My dear friend, reject the devil’s deceitful voice. We can be assured that NO trial or testing can EVER separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39) and that whatever comes into our lives, good or bad, the Lord in His infinite wisdom promises to work it out for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28). Don’t be fooled into not believing in the eternal promises of God that never fail. We can rest in the promise that our Lord “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18).

Through the years I am sure we have all have fallen for some April Fool’s trick, but let us not fall for the tricks of the devil who seeks to detour, derail, and distract us from what we know to be right. Paul tells us if we are going to be a fool, let’s not be one for the devil but let us be a fool for Christ’s sake (II Cor. 11:23) by daily living faithfully for Him.

Blessings,

Dr. Dan