The fool has only himself to please.
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
– Psalm 53.1
The fool does not know to tremble in his heart,/Nor to rise early in the morning, pray and prostrate,/Nor to chant prayers or petition mercy.
– Anonymous, “Priase God at the Beginning and End” (Early Welsh)
Consistency is the fool’s strong suit.
He insists there is no God, so he does not fear him. He does not tremble in his heart to think that God sees him every moment, notes every word and deed, and is storing up judgment now and forever against his folly.
The fool insists there is no God, so he doesn’t waste his valuable time in the morning praying and searching the Scriptures in order to know this One Whose existence he denies. He sleeps late, rises in time to prepare for the day, and heads off for another day of whatever may be his own peculiar agenda.
The fool believes God has no interest or place in his life during the day, so, of course, he makes no time for prayer, meditation, or spiritual conversation. His hours are all invested in his selfish pursuits. He has only himself to please.
The fool sings, but only the latest pop hits. Sing to the Lord? So what if He commands it! He does not exist! The fool sings only to entertain himself.
Yes, the fool is consistent, if nothing else.
And his consistency will be his damnation.
And what of us? We who claim to believe in God? Are we consistent in a manner, well, consistent with that claim? Do our prayers, reading, meditation, conversation, singing, and all our daily thoughts reveal devotion to Him Whose existence we acknowledge and salvation we claim?
Or does our consistency more resemble that of the fool than that of the follower of Christ?
These are times that demand consistency, dear friends. And the nature of our consistency will determine the course of the future.
Whether we think so or not.
T. M. Moore, Principal
tmmoore@ailbe.org
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