The Amplified version puts it as: to begin with, you must know and understand this that scoffers, mockers will come in the last days with scoffing; people who walk after their own fleshly lusts”.
The first manifestation or evidence of knowing a scoffer is by the way there live their lives in fleshly lusts. There is a connection between the way you live your life every day, and your beliefs system.
We hear it every day, that Jesus is coming, but what does it mean to you? Does life goes on as usual for you? Scoffing is a natural response that we see all around towards what God has said. If your confession of Jesus is coming, does not translate to your living (ready) for His return every day, then I don’t know what you are confessing. The people Noah preached to for 120years scoffed him. Because there have never seen rain, they didn’t believe it would happen.
A hundred and twenty years is not small by any means, but God’s word still came to pass. Jesus is coming again, Jesus is coming again! Is it just creed in your life, something to be recited, while you live your life differently?
For hundreds of years the prophets of old and apostles had spoken concerning what God was going to do, particularly with respect to the coming of Christ. Zech. 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughters of Zion; shout, O daughters of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly and ridding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” Between Zech 9:9, and the time this prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 21:5, more than at least 700years had passed, yet it still came to pass!
Don’t consider it a joke that the same thing is happening again, as men run after whatever is pleasing to them and when the one who is coming will come. They will not even recognize him.
1Tim. 4:1:“Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faiths, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” It is bad enough that people are turning away from the doctrine of Christ, but worse than that, is the subversion that we cause because our conduct is contrary to all that God says.
A pastor preaches “don’t steal, don’t steal”, and then the money that is brought to the house of God; the pastor steals it and converts it to something else. Don’t you read all the stories around? If only they know how much damage that is being done to the course of Christ!
2Peter 3:11: “Seeing then that all this things shall be dissolved, what manner of person ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”
The first element that tells me that you have gone from creed to conduct is sanctity of living. The Lord said “Except your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees, you will in no wise enter into the kingdom.
There is a sincerity that is called forth in the word of God Phil 1:10 “That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” Where is sincerity in the body of the Lord? Where is sincerity in your life? Tell the world that with your life!
1 Thess 5:6: “Therefore let us not sleep, as others; but let us watch and be sober.”
There is also a sober watchfulness that the word of God calls for, in preparation for the coming of the Lord. There is a certain degree of soberness (watching and praying) that we must exhibit, if we say that we are indeed waiting for the Lord’s return. We must be able to tell the world that Jesus is coming soon; not just with creed, but with our lives, 1John 3:3 says “And every that has this hope in him purified himself, even as he is pure.” Are you keeping yourself pure?
We have all come to the edge of the water at the point, because there is a law that is taking place; it is in the time of sleeping that the enemy plants the tares. It is in the time of sleeping that the enemy trumpets, “The bridegroom cometh, go out to meet him sounded” and people begin to scamper around.
Why then do you need to sleep? Don’t sleep like other do! Let your anticipation for the return of the Lord is seen in your conducts and the choices you make and in all that you do.
Col. 3:4-5 “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members who are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
PASTOR OLADELE AFOLABI IS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF THE CHRISTIAN BRETHREN CHURCH (TCBC) EJIGBO, LAGOS