By Tope Banso
“In that day ungodly fools will not be heroes. Wealthy cheaters will not be respected as outstanding citizens” (Isaiah 32:5 New Living Translation).
One of the evils under the sun is that ungodly fools have become the heroes of many people and cheats are being celebrated as VIPs. The reward system in most societies is tilted in favour of crooks. In many cases, it is not the best that gets to the top; it is the crafty ones. Dishonest people know how to manipulate the system to their advantage.
How can it be well with the people of societies where it is believed that honesty does not pay and hard work is not rewarded? It is no wonder that many youths pander towards entertainment because societies have become vainer than ever – very empty, no substance.
In a particular developing country, the government that cannot pay attractive salaries to its diligent professionals considered it appropriate to lavish gifts on the winner of a secular reality show that contributed nothing significant to national development. While diligent professionals like medical doctors and other health care providers, academics, engineers, lawyers, among others, earn a pittance, the government rewarded promoters of immorality on a live television show!
Isaiah 32:5 says, “In that day ungodly fools will not be heroes. Wealthy cheaters will not be respected as outstanding citizens” (New Living Translation). This scripture talks about what would happen under the reign of a righteous king in Judah (verse 1) after the return of the people from the exile. Under this righteous king, there would be no more injustice. Ungodly fools would not be heroes and wealthy cheaters would not be respected as outstanding citizens.
In another sense, this scripture is a prophecy about the return of the righteous king, Jesus Christ, who will reign with justice. Isaiah 11:3-5 says, “His delight is in the fear of the LORD, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist” (New King James Version).
However, Isaiah 32:5 could be seen as the opposite of what obtains in many societies today. It speaks to the situation of most societies today. “In that day ungodly fools will not be heroes. Wealthy cheaters will not be respected as outstanding citizens” (Isaiah 32:5 New Living Translation). Who are your heroes? Are they ungodly fools and wealthy cheaters?
The scripture continues in verses 6-7: “Everyone will recognize ungodly fools for what they are. They spread lies about the LORD; they deprive the hungry of food and give no water to the thirsty. The smooth tricks of evil people will be exposed, including all the lies they use to oppress the poor in the courts” (New Living Translation).
Many people, including those in the church especially the youths, are becoming vain in their thoughts. They don’t have the right people as their role models. Their heroes are the celebrities whose lives are not founded upon the Word of God or their values Bible-based.
However, because these ungodly fools have a huge following online and are famous and wealthy, many people want to and pray to be like them! This is in spite of the crises, confusion, and abnormalities in the lives of these celebrities that should never make any right-thinking person to choose them as their heroes, mentors or role models.
Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good” (New King James Version). Psalm 53:1 says a similar thing. Should anyone who calls himself a child of God make such a fool his hero, mentor, or role model?
Many of these ungodly celebrities live in defiance of God, have no home or have been divorced multiple times with children for different men or from different women. Some of them are drug addicts and social deviants or rebels. They have no peace in their lives though they give the public the impression that all is well with them. They live a fake life, a life of pretence. What is seen of them by the unsuspecting public is a mere façade. Unfortunately, many of their fans are deceived and still choose these ungodly fools as their heroes.
Is it not sad that some people who started singing in the children church and matured into the adult choir where they were trained, including how to play different musical instruments, have now abandoned the church? They have been led astray by the ungodly fools that they have chosen as their heroes. The hunger and thirst for fame and money like the secular musicians, who have become their idols, have made them not to sing in praise of God but sing what will sell such as sex, sinful pleasure and nonsensical and vulgar lyrics.
The Bible says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33 New King James Version). He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20). Avoid the company of ungodly fools.
Who is your hero? Does he believe in the living God? Are his values derived from the Bible? Does he adhere to the teachings of the Bible? Is your goal to receive the crowns from God or to receive honours from the world?
The people of the world know those to give awards, those to recognize and celebrate – those who participate in their race, not in the race that the Bible says God has set before believers (Hebrews 12:1). It is logical that you must participate in a race for you to receive medals or prizes (Philippians 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:7-8). Those who desire to become celebrities like their ungodly fools should be ready to run the world’s race. Romans 3:15 describes such would-be celebrities: “They race for the honour of sinner-of-the-year” (The Message).
Romans 1:32 gives us a clear picture of those crowning such participants in their sinful race as celebrities: “And it’s not as if they don’t know better. They know perfectly well they’re spitting in God’s face. And they don’t care – worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!” (The Message).
Don’t make ungodly fools your heroes or wealthy cheaters your role models. Everything does not end here on earth. Fame will end here on earth. Wealth won’t follow anyone into the grave. But eternity with God or in hell-fire is unending.
The Bible warns, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16a New King James Version).
Don’t make ungodly fools your role model so that your life won’t be like theirs and you won’t end your life like theirs. Ephesians 5:15 says to be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. “The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools” (Proverbs 3:35 New King James Version).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The LORD be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I shall not allow an evil company to corrupt my good habits. I shall not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Ungodly fools shall not become my heroes in Jesus’ name.
▪︎ Banso, an Abuja-based Minister, heads
Cedar Ministry International, and can be reached at [email protected], [email protected]; Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; and
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
