Are You A Scoffer?

Scoffer (def) - a person who mocks or makes fun of someone or something, often of religion or moral values. The moment you take a firm stand on believing "all" of God's Word, the scoffers will come in force. God is not sending them, by the way. These are false prophets, whether official or not. 2 Peter 3: ³ Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. ⁴ They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” Since we are in "the last days," I know it is important to be alert to the fact that the spiritual battle will be fought with spiritual weapons and nothing else. When we rely on spiritual weapons, we are relying on God's promises that He will fight for us and not rely on our weak human reasoning to fight this battle.

A scoffer can change their stance from doubter to believer, but there must be a heart change when it comes to trusting God.

1. We must not forget what God has done for us and all His promises. 2 Peter 3: ⁵ They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water.⁶ Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. ⁷ And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed. It is important to be on the right side of this spiritual battle, and scoffing at those who are fighting is a bad move because it places you in line with a lost and dying world and the attitude therein.

2. Be at work until Jesus comes. 2 Peter 3: ⁸ But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. ⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. Some have come to doubt if Jesus is returning for His church, and they languish in their thinking to the point of inactivity for the message of the gospel. We should continue to win the lost and make disciples of them after their conversion. We cannot be lazy about pouring truth into those new converts' lives, and discipling them is a process of their faith that is vital. The seed must grow into a thriving plant that is ever-producing more plants. I guess we could call it the Kudzu principle. Once planted, it never dies and then takes over.

3. Be alert and ready when Jesus comes. 2 Peter 3: ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Don't be caught unexpectedly unprepared. Be ready for Jesus, because He is coming to rapture His church, and that promise must not be minimized, and catch us off guard. Be a prophet who believes and responds with a lifestyle that is generated by that belief. Yes. You are a prophet, so be a good one and do not be deceived by a nonbelieving world of scoffers. I have personally had to deal with this scoffer mentality, and it usually happens when I share something that is spiritually based. I was in a group of men's Bible Study, and every time I brought up something about the Holy Spirit, one guy would grin sarcastically and lower his head. SCOFFER, SCOFFER, SCOFFER. I don't live my life in accordance with their lack of faith, but I live my life in total belief in all of God's Word. God's promises are true, and we will see them happen, just as it is written in the Word.

   It is the "in" thing to say that there is a generation looking for truth. Time for all generations to come back to God and His Word and once again, BELIEVE, and not scoff. There is one absolute and perfect truth, and it is the Word of God. Just believe.

4. What should our response be to those who scoff? Don't be around them if possible, and most definitely do not take their advice. Psalm 1:¹ Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. ² But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. ³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. We are told by the Word of God not to engage a mocker or scoffer, but just engage those who can take wisdom, or we are wasting our time. Proverbs 9:⁷ Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. ⁸ So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you, but correct the wise, and they will love you. ⁹ Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren