While we were waiting for Ricky to bring breakfast one morning, Stan asked, “Have you ever had anyone laugh at you because of what you believe?”
“I have,” I replied. “When I first told a friend I had become a Christian, he laughed and kind of made fun of me. Why do you ask?”
“I was reading in Luke’s gospel the other day,” Stan replied, “and I saw an account of some people who laughed at Jesus because they didn’t believe something He said.”
“Some people laughed at Jesus? That doesn’t seem like a real good idea. What’d He say that caused them to laugh?”
“He told them a girl was sleeping.”
“What’s so funny about that?”
“The people thought the girl was dead, not sleeping, and they thought they knew better than Jesus did about the situation.”
“Again,” I replied, “that doesn’t seem like a very good idea. What was going on?”
“Quick summary,” Stan said. “At one point, Jesus was in the middle of a crowd when a man named Jairus showed up and asked Him to heal his sick daughter.”
“Was his daughter with him?”
“No,” Stan replied, “she was at home. But before Jesus could even start to go there, someone from Jairus’ house came and told him that his daughter had died.”
“Then what?”
“When Jesus heard what was said,” Stan replied, “He told Jairus not to be afraid, but to believe, and the daughter would be made well.”
“So did Jesus go to the house?”
“He did,” Stan said. “And when he got there, that’s when the weeping and laughing people came onto the scene.”
“How so?”
“When Jesus entered the house, there was a bunch of people weeping over the death of Jairus’ daughter. Jesus told them to stop weeping because the girl wasn’t dead; she was only asleep. And that’s when they laughed.”
“Because they thought they knew better than Jesus?” I replied. “Is that why they laughed?”
“That’s it,” Stan said. “Jesus went on to wake up the girl, but before that happened it says that those people laughed because they knew that the girl had died. And what they did is not a whole lot different from what happens way too often today?”
“What’s that?”
“People laugh at Jesus and at the people who believe in Him,” Stan sad, “because they think they know better.”
“But they don’t,” I commented.
“Exactly,” Stan replied. “And there can be some serious consequences when people laugh because they don’t believe.”
“Like what?”
“Being separated from God for all of eternity, beginning here,” Stan said. “Because they don’t believe, they will miss life eternally with God when they step into eternity. As well, they will miss the eternal life of knowing Jesus and His Father while they remain on this side of eternity.”
“If that’s what they will miss because they laugh in their unbelief,” I asked, “do you think God will say, in essence, that He has the last laugh?”
“I don’t think God’s going to laugh,” Stan replied, “because He doesn’t want anyone to perish.”
“And,” he continued, “when those who are perishing realize too late that their lack of belief was no laughing matter, I don’t think God will be laughing. Satan probably will be, but God won’t. And we shouldn’t either. To perish in unbelief is no laughing matter!”
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Bible verses to consider:
Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. Luke 8:52-53.
He began to say, “Depart; for the girl is not dead, but is asleep.” And they were laughing at Him. Matthew 9:24.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way for all who believe to have life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you for those who told me the truth of your provision so I could accept what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while you keep me here I don’t tell others about your provision for all who believe. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in going and telling others about your free and gracious provision of life eternally with you, both now and forever. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you want to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with trying to reach the lost who are still laughing at Jesus and at those who believe in Him? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8),what does He know you need so you will reach out to those who may be laughing at Jesus (and you) so they will not perish in unbelief and be in Satan’s laughing presence forever? Spend some time on this in prayer, reflection, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?