A scoffer is someone who mocks or treats something with contempt. They will ridicule and laugh at the ideas of others as if they were stupid. We live in a world full of scoffers, especially when there is talk about the second coming of Christ. Scoffers have been around since the beginning.
When Eve was in the garden in Genesis chapter 3, Satan begins to tempt her, and his lie caused her to doubt God’s word. She not only ate the fruit, but she also gave it to her husband. They did not believe what God had told them, or they would not have eaten the fruit.
Genesis 3:6 “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
God warned Noah of the impending flood and told him to build the Ark. It took Noah 100 years to complete the Ark. Genesis chapter 6 teaches us that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. In Second Peter 2:5, God called Noah a preacher of righteousness. With this description of Noah, I feel sure he warned all that he could, but no one listened except his sons and their wives. No doubt there were scoffers then, too.
II Peter 2:5 “and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;”
Today, there are scoffers at every turn. Christians are mocked, ridiculed, teased, and treated as if they are stupid when speaking of the second coming of Christ. It should not surprise us that there will be scoffers. II Peter 3:3-4 warns us of their attitude. Many think that because something doesn’t happen when they believe it will, it’s not going to happen at all. Many will be caught in unbelief as they were in the days of Noah, but, as it was then, it will be now, too late.
II Peter 3:3-4 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
How are we as Christians to react to the scoffers of this world? We are to continue to teach and tell everyone each time we have an opportunity. We are to look for opportunities to change the conversation to Christ. We live in a world where nothing is certain. People are afraid of diseases, natural disasters, political regimes, and wars. Never in my life have I seen so much unrest about the future. This sets up the perfect time for us to give people the hope of Christ. One of the great promises of God is that of the new heaven and new earth. We are to be living for the time we will inherit that new world, whether it will be at our death or the second coming of Christ.
II Peter 3:13-14 “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
We should not grow weary while waiting. Each day gets us one day closer to meeting our Savior. God has a design for each day we are left here on this earth. He wants to use us to warn others, to challenge Christians to live a life that is honoring to Christ, and to reach out and snatch those who are doomed for Hell. Are you a scoffer, or do you honestly believe He’s coming back? If we really believe that those who die without Christ will spend eternity in Hell, how can we not warn them? How can we rest knowing those who don’t know Him are one breath away from the flames of eternal Hell?
Let the scoffers scoff, everyone will not believe, but some will. It is not for us to determine who will and who won’t believe. It is our place to warn all until all have heard. Jesus told us He was going to prepare a place for us, and if we believe Him, we need to take as many as we can with us.
John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
There is a beautiful ending for those who believe and obey. Don’t act as if you are a scoffer by the way you procrastinate.
Revelation 21:1-4 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Excellent