By now you probably know that today is April Fools’ Day. If you are just being reminded of that fact, perhaps I have spared you from a prank that someone who supposedly loves you is preparing to spring on you.

You have probably heard it said that today should be called National Atheists’ Day. This has been proposed because the Bible says, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1).

The Hebrew words that are often translated as “fool” in the Psalms refer to a person who is morally deficient. It has nothing to do with intelligence; it has everything to do with believing in a righteous God who sets the standards for human behavior and who reserves the right to punish or reward mankind based on our response to the God who has revealed himself to us in creation, Scripture and in his Son Jesus Christ.

Some fools aren’t content to say only in their hearts that there is no God. They say it out loud for others to hear their foolishness. Some have gone so far as to write entire books about their foolishness.

Most fools, however, are content to merely express their foolishness in their hearts. They won’t say out loud that they don’t believe in God, but they show their disbelief in their worldview and in their actions.

Some fools believe in evolution rather than creation. Some fools disregard God’s institution of marriage; they try to re-define it, or perhaps ignore it altogether. Other fools reject God’s plan of salvation and insist that there are many ways to God when he has plainly said that salvation is only through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). Still others act as if God’s church doesn’t exist, or that they don’t need to be a part of it.

There are many ways that intelligent people show themselves to be fools.

I hope you enjoy April Fools’ Day. Just don’t be one!