The Fool's Gold

THE FOOL’S GOLD

There is this common saying that all that glitters is not gold. There are many metals and stones that glitter but they are not all gold. Gold is precious to man and that explains why many people all over the world are seeking it.

In searching for gold therefore people usually come across its counterfeit, called charcoal pyrites. This mineral, more often than not is mistaken for the real gold.

Charcoal pyrites looks like gold and it is easier to find. It glitters just like gold and is usually found in the same region where there are gold deposits. Its discovery brings to the discoverer sudden but short-lived joy. It gives him a hope of becoming a multi- millionaire in a twinkling of an eye. He will suddenly become disillusioned when a goldsmith tells him he has not discovered gold but a fool’s gold.

But one can save oneself such agony by learning how to test whether what glitters is the real gold or charcoal pyrites. The easiest method to do that is to rub the surface of your discoveries on a hard surface like another stone. If the glittering remains after the exercise then you have discovered the real gold but if the glittering turns black, you have discovered the fool’s gold.

I am preaching on THE FOOL’S GOLD. Our text is taken from the book of Ecclesiastes.10: 1-7.

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

A wise man’s heart is at the right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.

Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to everyone that he is a fool.

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

There is an evil, which I have seen under the sun, as an error, which proceedeth from the ruler.

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in the low place.

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

Foolishness is a terrible thing. It turns something well made into a bad thing and reduces a person of honour to a dishonourable person. Foolishness can place an idiot upon a horse and make prince to walk before him bare- footed and naked.

I have noticed certain foolishness all around us today that we need to talk about. Foolishnesses that are found in the court of wisdom and among men of great learning, they are making nonsense all we claimed to know and understand. They have found the fool’s gold and they are celebrating their discovery. What a shame. What are these foolishnesses?

THE FOOLISHNESS OF A MISTAKEN IDENTITY

We have illustrated how one can mistakenly pick up Charcoal pyrites instead of the real gold, so also many people are still not sure of how to differentiate the real Jesus from fake and other self -acclaimed saviours. We have several Gurus and Jesus of many towns and localities telling people who were mostly learned, but are fools, that they are the expected Messiahs

As a matter of fact we used to have one Jesus of Oyingbo in Nigeria who claimed to be Jesus. This is what he wrote about himself in one of his tracts as being the messiah,

If I Immanuel who claim to be the Messiah, the last hope of mankind were false and deceitful.

GOD SHALL BRING UPON ME, OLUFUNMILAYO IMMANUEL, AND MY HOUSEHOLD, ALL THE PLAGUES MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE INCLUDING NAAMAN’S LEPROSY, AND OTHER EVILS CONTAINED THEREIN. AMEN, AMEN.

We all in Nigeria have been hearing so much about this man but only few of us would ever believe that he really called himself the messiah. But who were the followers? The so- called learned men and great scholars, the rich and men of great positions.

They become gullible because they did not know the true characteristic of Jesus that God promised us. When Apostle Paul was searching for Jesus he knew what he was searching for. In the book Philippians 3:10, he says,

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death

What kind of Jesus was he searching for? He wanted that Jesus who died and resurrected. He wanted the Jesus who had the resurrection power and not just any kind of power. And he wanted the Jesus who suffered persecution for righteousness sake.

It is only a fool that will readily accept anyone who claims to be Jesus. The Bible has pointed out how Jesus return will be like. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 the Bible says,