I noticed when talking to someone recently that every time the subject of faith in Christ and eternal life was mentioned it somehow turned funny, like it was a joke. There’s certainly nothing wrong with laughing and having fun and I believe God wants us to do that, but there should be moments when we are serious about our eternal future. I’ve had moments in my life and you probably have too when something was funny, and you couldn’t stop laughing. That’s not good especially when you’re in a place where it’s not appropriate, but you still can’t stop.
What the Lord showed me is that when someone laughs when you are trying to be serious about spiritual matters is, that is their defense mechanism. I’ve even heard people laugh and make jokes about spending eternity in hell with all their friends. My response is, you may go there and be surrounded by a thousand people, but you would never know it because of the agony of that place. If laughing and making light out of spiritual matters is not a defense mechanism, it is an outright defiance of God and a way of mocking the faith. Mockers laugh and try to joke their way out of the issues of their heart. It’s true and this reaction is exactly what Peter spoke of concerning the last days.
“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in [both of] which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you 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 Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers/mockers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 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 creation.” 2 Peter 3:1-4
Those mockers Peter spoke of may not come right out and ask the question, “Where is the promise of His coming,” but they will live their lives in such a manner that dismisses even the notion of the Lord’s return. Unfortunately the mockers are not just outside the church today, but inside and even in many pulpits trying to get a laugh out of people. A day is coming when there will be nothing at all to laugh at and the defense or defiance mechanism won’t work. The sound of laughter will be completely absent in hell, never to be heard again. You should laugh today and enjoy your life, but when the subject of spiritual matters comes up, don’t try to dodge it with a joke. Be serious about God, because He is very serious about you and me.
