FOOLISH THINGS!

[prophetess m. brignac]

There are certain things in life that are not only debatable, but strictly matters of opinion, and one of those things is the definition and concept of "foolishness"! This particular point of much contention, by definition,and conceptualizationon is not only "relative", but open to interpretation, and is only ,fairly, affirmed or negated, based on perspective,and private application as it pertains to one's own sphere of knowlege, experience, and basis of comparison. Foolishness is often synomynous with "stupidity", meaning that it is relative to those things that are incomprehensible, or rational to a particular person, group, or the masses. It implies either a lack of, or compromised intelligence, and reasoning,and it usually makes the "interpreters" uneasy or nervous, because it's beyond the realm of their "norm", and the familiar. Anything that doesn't fit the typical, average, or ordinary, has the potential to be judged as foolish, be it plant, animal, inanimate object, or "man". To deem something or someone "foolish" is risky business,because what may be viewed as "foolish" today, may be all the rage by night fall, depending on tthe acceptability, and the fickleness of men and their judgement. There is a realm of absolute idioacy and foolishness, that only make sense to the 'foolish", but it's not foolish to them and their comrades who are like-minded. The phenomenal thing about "foolisness", "craziness", and even "lunacy" ,is that when they are in the company of others with the same afflcition, behaviour, or ideation, it becomes "normal" or regular ,and those who are sitting in the judgement seat and handing out certificates of "normalcy", and "acceptability" have the script totally "flipped" on them! For every "foolish" person, observed doing deviant things, please believe that while you're observing them with wonder, and astonishment, they're observing you, and wondering why you're not doing what they're doing! The Bible enumerates a few things considered to be foolish" like the individual described in Proverbs 10:14 "WISE men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the "FOOLISH" is near destruction." It's pretty much a proven fact that fools can go unnoticed, until they make the mistake of opening their mouths! Matthew ch. 7 considers the unfortunate soul who builds his house on the sand a "fool", when in fact, it may have made perfectly good sense to him,if it was supposed to be temporary, he got a great deal,and that's all he could afford.

"Foolishness" is usually the partially informed conclusion and opinion of those who are in a much better state of affairs or position than those being re-defined or labeled as "foolish". In the case of the "unwise virgins", not much of a case can be built for these girls, because their slothfulness, and inability to be discerning or observative, honestly earned them their new definition! Some things are cut and dry, and the proof is in the latter end. The Galatians were judged as being "foolish" because of their instability and double mindedness in faith. When it comes to spiritual matters, obedience to God, rendering one's reasonable service, and maintaining a life of expectation regarding His assured, imminent return, there are no"grey areas" between what's "foolish",and what's wise" or prudent! The heart and the pursuit of "lust" are considered foolish, and I don't think the jury's still out on either of these, and it is substantiated by all the laws of relativity, and every living soul's personal testimony! Many of those things that the juries of mere men have labeled "foolish", have changed the dynamics of this world, and the course of this life. The Wright brothers who designed the airplane, were considerd to be total fools, for believing that a man in tons of metal , through aerodynamics,could defy the forces of gravity, and air travel, but thanks be to God for those "flying fools" because now we can all get from the lower coasts of Mexico to a gondola in Italy in a span of a few hours! Every great idea that challenged what was already in existence was considered to be foolish by somebody at some point. There's a basis for the saying that "Fools" rush in, where angels dare not tread"! The first car, the first television, the first washing machine,hairdryer, pair of pants, mini skirts, stilletoes, bras, eyeglasses, press on nails, safety pins, tampon, stethescopes, and scores of other things all went through a foolish initiation, but now, like "American Express" only a "fool" would be without one! One of the greatest and most profound "foolish" things was the preaching of the cross, and it was that same cross, that gave unbelieving "fools" the option, privilege, and hope of salvation and a way of escape from their misery. "For the preaching of the "cross" is to them that perish "foolishness" but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God." For it is written "I will destroy the wisdom of the "wise" and will bring to nothing the understanding of the "prudent"....Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?..."Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God , and the wisdom of God." The very audacity ofthe Virgin Mary, and her "foolishly" explained sudden pregnancy, with no visble, tangible,or known "Baby's Daddy", was the stuff foolishness is made of, and the child that lay within her womb would become the greatest Spectacle, and enigma of "Foolishness" in the history of the world! The Bible sys that even His "cross" was foolishness, and that cross is inescapable,in it's imagery, duplication, replication, popularity, notoriety, controversy, and presence in every design form, fashion, depiction, and type around the world. This "cross" was, and is so profoundly impacting that even the heathen, devil worshippers, and atheists are drawn to it's representation, even though they desecrate and abuse it. There are many other religious symbols, they could choose for their obssession, but there's something,undeniable, even by satan himslef, about the foolishnesss of Calvary's cross..

In spite of all of these truths, it was the "foolish" like Mephibosheth, whose very name meant that he was sent to destroy shame,that really gave God some "miracle working" substance to work with, and show Himself strong!." That could be, understandably, perceived as "foolishness", considering the way his life played out. How could someone who had been orphaned, dropped on the floor by his nanny, and left crippled with a noticeable handicap, and was raised outside of his father's wealth and prosperity, possibly pull off such a feat?. There were no handicap services, rights for the disabled, or even any "handi-capped parking", or any other consideration for their "special needs", and anything, plant (the fig tree that didn't bear fruit), animal (imperfect sheep or oxen for sacrifices was unacceptable), and "people (lepers, blind "halt" were often, forced to become beggars, and disowned) and any physical imperfection was viewed as a mark of shame, but the "notion" that this man with an obvious disability, no parents, and no resources was supposed to, somehow "destroy shame" probably ranked in the top ten of foolishness. What's even more foolish than any of these things, is the absolute "foolisness" of faith, favor, and the sovereignty and eccentricity of God. God had a predestined plan to work out the path and the pattern of the reversal of Mephibosheth's former days and former house of "foolishness", and transform it into one of the greatest testimonies of "All that looks foolish, "ain't" neccessarily so!. ever.". In the due season of God, when it was time for the foolish things to confound the wise, he sent a man in search of this crippled , disenfrachised man, and had him brought to King David's palace for a blessing and a miracle that had always existed for him, but had been held in "escrow" until his "foolishness" had been well established, (this is the process for earth shaking, profound tesimonies). After all that knew him had accepted and defined him as a cripple with a big name, the Lord, "suddenly", straightened out the man's situation, without straightening out his handicap, and positioned him into his destiny, and 'expected end", and in the blinking of an eye, the same people who mocked him, and viewed him as "foolishness", found themselves bowing to his new condition and circumstances of of honor,wealth, and authority! That's how the Lord works in the lives of His people, and there are not many who "are" somebody in God, or who're destined "to be" somebody in God who haven't gone through seasons of being considered to be "foolishness" if not in our later llife, then by our birth circumstances. Sometimes we inherit our identity as "foolishness", because Daddy was a notorious alcolholic or neighborhood drug dealer, and Mommy was a "free for all" if you had a couple of "rocks" or some "blows". Still others made the ranks of "foolishness" because they didn't "smell" quite right when they came to school, or they had safety pins, and botched sewing jobs, where there should've been buttons, zippers,and snaps. Who would've ever thought that these same people would go on to be that Evangelist preaching the glory down the night that "YOU" got saved, or that Prophet who would have the Rhema word that would prevent you from going home doing something extremely "foolish"? Who could've guessed that the same little rejected and ridiculed, odd looking, stuttering, painfuly shy liitle girl, that everyone on the playground avoided and made fun of, would write seven consecutive best-sellers and be a sought after conference speaker and revivalist? How foolish is it to even imagine that the "round the way" crack head and "strawberry", could and would become one of the premiere Bible scholars and theologians of all time? I mean really,can anything "good" come out of Nazareth? Perhaps so, and perhaps not,but all things good and "unfoolish" can come out of God!