Everyone does foolish things. I do, you do, we all do. The only person who perhaps never did a foolish thing is Jesus. And who knows, even He may have done a foolish thing once or twice. He was human, like us.

Doing something foolish does not make you a fool. But when you stubbornly persist in doing the same foolish wrong thing, and you even believe that it's right—then, according to my definition, you have become a fool.

There are foolish actions, foolish words, and foolish thoughts. All of them can be recognized, dealt with, and corrected—but if you're truly a fool, you won't do that.

In other words, it's hard to be a fool accidentally. It takes ignorance or stupidity, plus a pretty large measure of stubbornness, to be a fool.

Here's an example: "road rage." Just this week a young fool tailgated an older man for eight miles, then pulled him out of his car and beat him up severely. Now that young fool is in jail, as he should be. Can there be anything more foolish than getting all bent out of shape because of traffic frustration, or simple impatience, or the fact that some other driver did something you didn't like? I can't imagine a worse fool than the person who thinks that his or her "road rage" reactions are justified.

Here's another example, maybe closer to home for many of us—an argument that becomes ugly, with accusations and insults that have nothing to do with the original difference of opinion. Foolish words spoken in anger can do tremendous damage to a relationship and even to a person's psyche. Anyone who believes that such verbal abuse is justified is, in my opinion, a fool.

And have you ever heard the classic joking statement, "Don't confuse me with the facts; my mind is made up"? There are many fools who do not want to know the truth; they prefer to believe what they have always believed, even if it's a lie. For example, everyone who stubbornly believes that his own race is somehow superior to others is this kind of fool.

The Bible has a lot to say about fools.

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. (Proverbs 14:16)

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. (Proverbs 18:2)

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. (Proverbs 20:3)

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. (Proverbs 23:9)

These verses and several others tell us that a person who is reckless, opinionated, quarrelsome, and self-centered is a fool. Don't be like that. Instead, be the opposite. Be someone who knows right from wrong, and who does actions that are right but steers clear of actions that are wrong. Be a person who uses words to bless people, rather than to cut them down. Always be willing to learn from others. You do not have to win every argument.

It's one thing to act like a fool, so that everyone can see that you are one. It's another thing to behave more or less responsibly and yet to miss out on all of the blessings that God longs to give you, simply because you won't let Him do it.

Are you the kind of fool who doesn't have time for God? Are you a person who plans to "get right with God" someday before you die, but not right now? If you are, then pay attention now, because this is important: The most awesome blessing any human being can ever receive is to be together with God in eternity, sharing in His glory, His joy, His peace—this is called "Heaven." The worst, most awful, most agonizing punishment that any human can have is to be eternally separated from God—this is called "Hell."

And the most important fact you will ever face in your life is this: you get to choose. No, let me rephrase that: you have to choose.

As God said to the ancient Israelites, so He says to each of us, "Today I set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you may live." (see Deuteronomy 30:19)

The bad news is that you have to choose. By putting it off, you simply choose death. Only by choosing life can you have life.

The good news is that you don't have to earn it. You don't have to become "good enough"—in fact, you can't. Nobody can. As Paul the Apostle wrote to the Romans, "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

If you're the kind of fool who has not wanted to make that choice; who has put it off until "someday," that someday you've been counting on may come too late or not at all—do it now.

If you're the kind of fool who has given up on having a right relationship with God, and simply resigned yourself to going to Hell, then repent, turn around, and choose life today, because God has not given up on you.

And here's the rest of the good news: by saying "yes" to God, you don't have to give up anything that's worth keeping. He may urge you and help you to change some of your ways, but every such change will do you good and give you peace.

Think about Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac and grandsons of Abraham. (The account is in Genisis 25:19-34) Esau was the older of the two, and thus he was entitled to the "birthright"—the inheritance that went to the first-born son. But he did not value it highly, and he sold his birthright to his brother for a mere bowl of stew, which was quickly eaten and gone!

In the matter of his birthright, Esau was a fool.

Those who put off "choosing life" are Esau's kind of fool. They are trading the certainty of eternal life with God for the fleeting, worthless pleasures of this brief earthly life. They are choosing death.

So, how do you "choose life"? Really, it's just a simple matter of telling God, and convincing yourself, that you're now willing to let Him be in charge of your life. He's smarter than you are, he's better than you in every way, and He loves you unconditionally in spite or your past sins and current faults. Turning your life over to Him is the very best thing you can possibly do for yourself.

That's a beginning. The next part is to start letting Him teach you how to live the victorious life He intends for you. Start reading and studying the Bible, perhaps starting with the book of John. Even if you don't "get it" at first, in time the Holy Spirit will make it clear to you.

Get into a good Christian church, or at least a group of real believers in Jesus. They will help you grow in the Lord, and you will do the same for them.

And pray a lot—not with fancy words; they don't impress God and don't accomplish much. Just tell God your needs, and the needs of others you know—He will take it from there. And tell Jesus you love Him, and you're thankful for His sacrifice on the cross that saves you. And spend some time just waiting for the Holy Spirit to bring comfort to your spirit, in spite of circumstances that are troubling you

Now a word for those of you who are saved, and who are concerned for a loved one or a neighbor who is not saved. Just this: ask the Lord to save that person. Ask Him to do whatever it takes to bring that person into the Kingdom.

And guess what—He will. It may take time, so don't you give up. Keep on asking. And God will do it. How do I know? Jesus said, if we ask for anything that is in agreement with God's will, we will get it. And of course we know that God wants that loved one or that neighbor to be saved, right? He wants everyone to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. So it will happen. So while you're asking for that person's salvation, add a prayer of thanks that it is already happening even if you don't see it yet.

God bless your walk with Jesus.