“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
When was the last time you felt like a conqueror, one who had won the battle, defeated the enemy, watched as those who would stand against you run in fear from you or bow to you? Unless you are in some form of sporting event, probably not very often, for our battle as those who serve the Risin Savior is with words and occasionally with good works that heap coals of shame upon the heads of those who oppose us, and therefore Him.
I might go as far as to say that many men of God have a fiercely competitive nature within themselves, not for the sake of vainglory, not for prides sake, but because of the fervent desire they have as soldiers of the cross of Christ to stand when the enemy stands before them.
“And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.” (1st Kings 18:27)
I heard a well-respected man of God once say how much he admired Elijah for the way he stood for the Almighty, but then in the next sentence suggested that we should not be like him, and I have never been able to understand those words. Perhaps he believed that those who have been born-again should not be quite so forthright, that others might see it as offensive if we mocked what they believe, if we made fun of the foolishness of their vain imaginations. Perhaps he was saying that what Elijah said was not very loving.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12)
But it is people we meet, and those that we speak to are either deceived unbeknownst to themselves or are willingly adhering to false teachings from men who have no fear of God before their eyes. Can we not see the foolishness, what could be called the stupidity, of those who actually believe they can call down the Most High God from His throne in heaven, stick Him in a wafer, and then eat Him? Those who believe that when they die they will receive a planet and become a god? Who claim that the Lord Jesus Christ and Satan are brothers, and Christ had a better plan for humanity, so Satan became angry? Praying to an overweight bald man, receiving seventy virgins, coming back as a cricket?
Tell me you could stand before any of these and be able to hold back your laughter.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
We are in love to give them the truth, and if they will not accept that truth, then “Let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” (Matt. 18:17b)
Some are deceived and will hear the truth, coming out of the darkness, others will rebuke you vehemently, and as Elijah did, at times I have no problem whatsoever calling them fools, for that is what they are.
If you believe that all of them are deceived by our adversary, that it is not their fault that they live in these deceptive lies, then Romans 14:12 is not a truth to you, for the Almighty would accept their excuse on their day of accounting, and He will not.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
We are not in competition with them, but we through the Lord Jesus Christ are the conquerors, and by standing in those truths, we reveal to them that they have already lost. That is why they hate us.
“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1st Cor. 3:15)
You do not need to laugh in their face, it is not necessary to mock their beliefs, if you offer the words of the Scriptures to them, His words will do that for you. You will be speaking to someone who if they do not repent, will suffer eternally, there is nothing amusing about that.
