I just heard this morning on the news that 1 billion square miles of land will be under water in 5 years. Global warming is melting the ice-caps and the oceans are rising fast. This is alarming! I was shocked. I couldn't believe it, and you shouldn't either. April fool's. :)

I couldn't resist. In fact, it made me think of a few lessons we should all be reminded of.

One: don't believe everything you here. This was something Paul warned about often in his writings to the early churches. "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel." (Gal. 1:6) These early Christians had heard the truth but as Paul goes on to say, "People are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the truth." Thousands of years later people still try and change the truth, they try and come up with their own and they mislead people. The only person we can get truth from is Jesus. (Jn. 14:6a) The task is simple yet serious for us; test all claims to the truth of Jesus.

Two: Paul was concerned about these followers of Christ because the false truth was throwing them into confusion. They started to change the way they lived. If you believed me about the melting of the ice-caps and the water covering the land you might have changed something in your life. You might have moved out of Florida fearing that if you stayed you'd drown. Or, you might have invested all your money in a boat. Seriously though, you would be so focused on preservation and preparation that you may loose sight of living for God today. When I hear these end of the world doomsday predictions I keep on living the same. I say yeah your right, one day this world will come to and end, but for today I'm still gonna live for Jesus.

Three: We should live for Jesus today with eternity in mind. What have you been involved in this month with Jesus that will count for eternity? What are you putting effort, money, and time into that will make it past this life? If it doesn't make a difference after you die, it shouldn't make a difference while your alive. Live in love with Jesus and display his glory through your life, your words, and your choices.

Last: Don't fear tomorrow. God is already there, and He has a plan. He can carry you and love you through anything. Tomorrow is another excellent opportunity to display God on this earth. Tomorrow is another day to be thankful, another day to worship God, another day to enjoy creation and loved ones, it's also another day to grow.

April fool's is a day where we trick people but there are no tricks here. God loves you. And friend, He is worth all of you, not just your leftovers. "The greatest good on this earth is God. Period. God's one goal for us is Himself." - Francis Chan

- Josh