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You’re quite confident that you understand life and that you’re on the right path. You have goals and wants and believe you have the means to obtain them. You have a group of friends that you hang out with. You feel part of the crowd and at home. You’ve figured out what life is all about. There are no pressing issues to resolve. There are no unknowns in your life and you’re confident that everything is as you see and believe them to be. You’re convinced that you have an accurate perspective on life.

If that’s your outlook on life, the Bible calls you a fool. “The eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.” You live your life no higher than an animal. The fool will only look around him, upon this earth, but not search for more meaning in his life. The fool will be satisfied at what he sees and hears around him without asking himself how these came to be or the basic questions of this life – Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? You will not find these answers from the theories of evolution or any other philosophies of man, but the Bible gives the answers. Who am I? You are a human being distinct from animal life in that you have an eternal soul. Why am I here? You are here to find God and to know His purpose in your life. Where am I going? That question is yet to be answered – either Heaven or Hell depending on what you do with Jesus.

1. A fool values this life more than eternity.

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).

Your life is quickly vanishing away and will soon be gone. Then eternity will be ushered in where your soul will live forever either in Heaven or Hell. How foolish it is to for you to be overly concerned with this life at the expense and neglect of the fate of your eternal soul. You have not settled the most important question of life – where am I going? You hang in a precarious state as your life quickly slips away and you draw closer to Hell.

You have hopes and dreams to fulfill in this life, and you have no time to think of abstract, irrelevant, and negative things like eternity, Heaven, or Hell. You have some living to do. You have to go places, do things, and experience all the world has to offer. Yet the Bible says,

“For what is a man profiteth, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

Did you get that? The Bible says that even if you were to somehow gain the whole world with all of its wealth and power you still would be the loser if you lost your own soul in the process. That’s a great statement of the value of your eternal soul. But you don’t equate things that way, because you want to live your life as an animal following only your five senses and do not consider the deeper things in life like where your soul will spend eternity. You cannot bring yourself to deny worldly lusts, sins, and pleasure to spend time thinking about the fate of some soul that the Bible says that you have. That attitude and practice will lead to your eternal ruin in Hell:

“Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things”

(Philippians 3:19).

A fool values this life more than eternity. Is that your opinion too? If it is, then you’re a fool.

2. A fool thinks he can live the Christian life without Christ.

An ignorant and foolish person will have a high opinion of himself and believe that with much effort he can conform his life to that of a true Christian. He’s become convinced that it is right to become a Christian and that he has what it takes to become one. Others may fail, but he knows he will succeed. The Bible holds a completely different point of view of such a person.

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).

"They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge" (Jeremiah 4:22).

He may go to church for awhile, read his Bible, pray, and even stop a few sins. But he will not last long. The Bible says,

"As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly" (Proverbs 26:11).

Without true conversion you will not be able to fake the Christian life long. Soon you will go back to your old sins, like a dog returning to his vomit.

A fool thinks he can live the Christian life without Christ. Is that what you think? If you do, you’re a fool.

3. A fool thinks he can become a Christian merely by the words he says or
the actions he performs.

The Bible clearly states that it is the sovereign act of God that initiates salvation in drawing the sinner to Christ. Although man is not passive in the process of salvation, as God’s drawing can be resisted by the sinner, it is unbiblical to believe that a sinner can become a Christian by any external act or deed (John 5:40; Acts 7:51; Cf. Nehemiah 9:30; Isaiah 63:10).

“No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44).

“Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9).

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13).

Consider that all the transactions that must take place in salvation all occur in Heaven. A sinner has all his sins recorded in the books in Heaven. A sinner by faith must come to Jesus who is seated at the right side of God in Heaven. The Blood of Christ is in Heaven. In salvation, the Blood of Christ will blot out all these sins.

In what way then can anything that a sinner does on earth actuate any of these events in Heaven? A person that puts great stock in what he says or does and believes that that will somehow change his status with God in Heaven is equivalent to believing in magic and “hocus pocus.” Because he has “asked” Jesus to come into his heart, said the “sinner’s prayer,” raised his hand, or walked forward during an invitation, he believes that he is a Christian. He is convinced that saying the right words will bring him salvation, but really he speaks glibly with no thought of what he is saying or doing:

“A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell?”

(Ecclesiastes 10:14)

Many others believe they have called on Jesus to save them and are resting in that for their salvation. But Jesus said,

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

Moreover, have you considered how mere words or actions can change your terrible spiritual condition before God?

“The whole head is sick, and whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores" (Isaiah 1:5,6).

This is a vivid picture of the total depravity of your heart. Your heart is completely against God and for sin. How can any words you say blot out all your sins in God’s books in Heaven and bring about a conversion in your character so that you will live your life as a Christian? No, becoming a Christian entails more than just saying some idle words, learning a few Bible doctrines, raising your hand, coming forward, or saying the sinner’s prayer.

A fool thinks he can become a Christian merely by the words he says or the actions he performs. Do you think that? If you do, you’re a fool.

4. A fool thinks the pleasures of sin are better than any difficulties in
obtaining salvation.

It does require some effort, even some difficulty, to obtain salvation. The Bible says,

"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" (Luke 13:24).

"The kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it" (Luke 16:16).

But only a fool would think that such effort is not worth it. Salvation from the judgment of sin is a matter of eternal life or eternal death. .

The temporary pleasures of sin bring judgment and the wrath of God upon you while the temporary difficulties in obtaining salvation, although not pleasant at the time, bring eternal life and bliss in heaven. Wisdom would dictate that the pleasures of sin are not worth judgment and that the difficulties in obtaining salvation are worth it. But a fool does not weigh things that way. For him, the pleasures of sin take precedence over the difficulties in obtaining salvation.

Speaking of Moses, the Bible says,

“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt”

(Hebrews 11:25,26).

Moses was no fool. He knew the pleasure of sin was only for a short season but the salvation of his soul is for eternity. He chose wisely. What about you? Have you been “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13) so that you think that the brief pleasures of sin is worth missing salvation and going to Hell?

"Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour" (Proverbs 14:9).

Isn’t it true that you make light of your sins and never think of the judgment that you’re under because of them? Are you not a fool for thinking that way?

A fool thinks that the pleasures of sin are better than the difficulties in obtaining salvation. Is this what you think? Is this true of you? If it is, you’re a fool.

5. A fool fears man, but not God.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

But you do fear them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul? And you have no fear of God who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell. Your problem again is you have only an earthly perspective and not an eternal one. You fear only for your body, this life, but care nothing for your eternal soul. Almost anybody or anything can kill the body; but if your soul is safe in Christ, you remain eternally secure. Therefore, you should not have disproportionate concern over whether your body is killed. But Jesus said you should be concerned on whether your soul is destroyed – eternally in Hell. And only one Person can do that, and that’s God. Jesus is saying that your fear should be of God and not of man, as only God can determine the fate of your eternal soul.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

If you are to be saved one day, you must first acquire a fear of God. Fear Him, because He is omnipotent – all powerful. Fear Him, because He is omniscient – all knowing. Fear Him, because He is angry with you with all your sins written in the books in Heaven. Fear Him because He will cast you into Hell one day if you do not come to Christ for salvation from your sins. The Bible says that to do so would be the “beginning of knowledge.” Fear of God must be established first, then naturally salvation from His wrath upon your sins will be sought. Many of you are not necessarily afraid of mortal injury from man, but you are afraid of what others think about you if you become a real Christian. And so you must go to Hell too.

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).

A fool fears man but not God. Is this true of you? If it is, you’re a fool.

6. A fool would rather be condemned than pardoned.

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already" (John 3:18).

Only a fool, you say, would rather be condemned than be pardoned. You’re absolutely right! But the Bible teaches that you are condemned already. Condemned just the way you are without doing another sin. So, if you do not seek and obtain a pardon you will remain condemned. Have you sought your pardon – your salvation through Christ? Not if you have not heeded the preaching.

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us that are saved it is the power of God"

(I Corinthians 1:18).

The same preaching that the man who perishes considers foolishness brings salvation to the man who allows the preaching to speak to him and convict him of sin that he might seek salvation through Christ.

"Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death" (Jeremiah 21:8).

You are at a crossroads in your life. Your inactivity, inattention, and slothfulness will bring condemnation. To take seriously the preaching against your sin and your need for Jesus can bring you pardon and salvation.

A fool would rather be condemned than pardoned. Is that what you think? If it is, you’re a fool.

7. A fool puts off his conversion and risks losing his soul.

A fool will disregard all the warnings in the Bible about his urgent need for conversion.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2).

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1).

He’s convinced that he has a lot of time to be converted, and there’s no urgency to act. He’ll do it some day; he’s sure of it. He has no concern that his soul could be lost forever in Hell. Many may even know the importance of being converted urgently but are too lazy to see it through.

"The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh"

(Ecclesiastes 4:5).

Your slothfulness and careless attitude will be to your own destruction.

A fool puts off his conversion and risks losing his soul. Is that your attitude. If it is, you’re a fool.

When the Bible calls you a fool, it does not mean that you are intellectually deficient, as even children, though frequently very foolish, can be converted (Proverbs 22:15; Matthew 18:3). It refers to the foolishness of your heart.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1).

The reason you think the way you do is because you are a practical atheist. Oh, you may believe in God mentally, but you live your life as if there were no God, because your heart says so. Unless you see that terrible sin in you, there’s no hope for you. Do not hide behind the fact that you believe that God exists and conclude that you are not an atheist. For all intents and purposes, you are an atheist, and that’s why you live your life and hold the opinions that you do. But there is yet hope for you.

"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish …" (Titus 3:3).

All Christians were, prior to conversion, practical atheists “having no hope, and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12).

Consider the fact that you are so wrong in your views of God and this life. Consider the fact that you concern yourself only with this life and have not considered that great question of where you will spend eternity. Consider the fact that you have sinned greatly against God, and these sins are written in the books in Heaven. Consider that these sins will condemn you. Consider that you will die soon and go to Hell. Believe it. Think about it. Let these things trouble you and weigh you down. Say with the Psalmist:

"O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee" (Psalm 69:5).

Haven’t you been foolish in minding only this life and not considering where you will spend eternity? Haven’t you been foolish not to be concerned over your sins that will condemn you? Then come with your foolishness and your sins to Jesus, and He will wash them away in His Blood.

“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5)

Scripture Reading Before Sermon: Matthew 7:13,14, 24-27; Proverbs 17:24

Solo by Benjamin Kincaid Griffith: “Jesus, Only Jesus”

by Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980).