Sometimes we laugh at things that are funny. Sometimes we laugh when it is appropriate and sometimes we laugh when it isn’t. I’ve laughed sometimes at church and even at funerals (when the preacher or speaker said something funny that the deceased said or did). But other times we laugh when it isn’t appropriate. Sometimes I laugh when I’m nervous – and it’s at times when I shouldn’t laugh. Do you ever laugh when it’s inappropriate? Do you ever laugh when you shouldn’t? Are you laughing inappropriately tonight? Are you laughing at God tonight?
I’m asking this question because sometimes downtown people mock God. Sometimes they scoff at God. Sometimes they out right laugh at God. Are you laughing at God? You are treading on dangerous ground tonight if you are laughing at God. God will not be mocked. He is merciful and gracious, so He may put up with your foolishness for a time, but at some point He may say enough and require your very life from you.
God will not be mocked. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Galatians 6:7-8). For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up (Hosea 8:7).
Too many people foolishly mock and scoff God today. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful (Psalm 1:1).
Psalm 14:1-4a says: The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?
Psalm 74:10 states: O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily (Psalm 74:22).
Typically God mockers and scoffers make fun of those who are sharing God’s truth. This is nothing new. Listen to 2 Chronicles 36:16: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Please notice it says that God’s wrath was upon the people and there was no remedy. Oh, do not continue mocking God today. Don’t continue laughing your way to Hell. You won’t laugh one time once you are there. It is no joke. Do not reap the whirlwind tonight. Do not suffer God’s wrath over your sins.
Jesus came as a lamb for the slaughter the first time that He came, but He’s coming back as a lion. Jesus willingly laid down his life as a ransom for many the first time that He came to this earth. He allowed the soldiers to mock him. He allowed the Jewish people to mock Him. He allowed the thief hanging next to Him on the cross to mock Him and He allowed the high priest to mock Him.
In God’s great mercy and patience, maybe He is allowing you to mock Jesus tonight too. But do not be deceived. One day you will mock one time too many. One day you will continue reveling in your sins one day too long. One day you will find yourself taking your last breath and then find yourself standing before the One you mocked; but this time He will be on His throne and you will find yourself on Judgment Day with nothing to mock and nothing to laugh at. Your fate will be sealed at that point. It will be too late for you to repent and trust Jesus at that time.
Jesus will remind you of every vile thought, blasphemous words and evil actions that you have ever thought, said and done. You will be without excuse and He will have His servants cast you into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. This is no laughing matter. Are you laughing at God? Are you still laughing? One day you will not laugh. No, you will whine and cry in torments for all of eternity. Oh don’t continue mocking the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Oh bow your knee and confess with your tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord. Surrender your life to Him. Do this tonight and be saved.
Do not continue laughing at God. Do not continue mocking Him. It will not end well for you. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly (Proverbs 3:34). Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth (Isaiah 28:22). This is why America is in so much trouble today.
We have mocked and scoffed at God far too many Years. He has given us countless times to repent and turn to Him, but we would not. We are a rebellious and sinful country. We live in a crooked and perverse nation. We need to repent and we need to do it quickly. We need to quit murdering babies in the womb. We need to stop saying all kinds of sinful behavior is normal and alright. We need to read God’s word and believe God’s word. We need to get right with God before He pours His total judgment out upon us.
You say God doesn’t judge? Then you judge incorrectly. God judged the world guilty except for Noah and his family and they were the only ones who survived God’s judgment. Every other single human being was destroyed by the great flood. By the way, the rainbow is not a show of pride and perversion; it is God’s promise that He will never destroy the earth by flood again. So does that mean we can live freely and sin freely since God will never flood the earth again?
Of course not! That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 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.
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:2-12).
Are you still laughing at God? You will not be laughing in the end. The heavens and the earth will one day melt with fervent heat. There will be new heavens and a new earth. But for those who laughed at God during this lifetime and foolishly die in their sins, will not get to enjoy the new heavens and the new earth. They will be too busy suffering in the lake of fire and brimstone to enjoy anything.
Still laughing? I’d stop immediately if I were you. The Bible tells us that God is going to laugh at you – if you continue in your rebellious state. Psalm 2 says: Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Fear God and kiss the Son tonight. Come to Jesus Christ. God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Humbly come to Jesus tonight. Cry out for God to have mercy upon you. Repent and put your faith in Jesus.
Maybe you are out here tonight and you are a Christian. You are a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. But I ask you, are you laughing at God? Abraham was 99 years old and he laughed when God told him that he would have a son (Genesis 17:17). Then Sarah who was 89 years old also laughed when she heard that she was going to have a baby (Genesis 18:12).
So I ask you again Christian: are you laughing at God? Is God calling you to do something and you are ignoring Him? Are you missing God’s best plan for just a good plan? Are you laughing at God like Abraham and Sarah laughed? Oh dear brother or sister in Christ, do not laugh at God. You will not lose your salvation if you are truly saved, but you also shouldn’t mock God. Read the Bible. Pray to God. Continue to ask God if you are in His will, if you are truly surrendered to Jesus Christ our Lord. Laugh no more at our great Creator. Submit your life to Jesus – fully and completely.
(This message was proclaimed on the square in downtown Springfield, MO on September 18 2015)