Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7
Hold on a bit, how can this verse possibly be true? Don’t professing atheists mock God every day? Don’t schools and universities that teach the nonsense of evolution mock God’s Word all the time? Don’t the people all around us mock God every time they open their mouths to use His name only as a swear word? And what about the religious organizations who distort His word, or ignore all but the parts that they don’t think offend their dignities, aren’t they all mocking God? Well, yes and no. They think they are mocking God, but they are not going to get away with it; they will not go unpunished.
The Ten Commandments remind us that God will not hold the person guiltless who takes His name in vain. In our text today, the Greek word for ‘mocked’ is unique in the New Testament. It carries the meaning of sneering at God in the mistaken belief that they have outsmarted God or have evaded any punishment for their evil deeds. Such mockers will have no excuse when they stand at the Great White Throne. And stand there they will, regardless of their attitude today.
Many years ago, a newspaper in Charlottetown published the story of a farmer who boasted of planting his potatoes, cultivating the crop, and then harvesting the potatoes, all on Sundays and only on Sundays. The man boasted of having his biggest crop ever. The Journal Pioneer wisely added this observation at the end of the story: ‘God obviously does not always settle His accounts in October’.
Such attempted mockery of God has grown ever worse in recent years. That which the Bible condemns as evil, in terms of immorality and an abomination to God, has become the norm, and is widely accepted as being an appropriate replacement for morality and God-fearing behaviour. This growing defiance of God presents a great opportunity for believers to be a witness. Our respect for the Word of God and all that it teaches can reach out to those who can see and appreciate the difference. Never in the history of our country has there been such an opportunity to stand out as God’s people by simple obedience to His Word.
As a Christian, you can display submission to the Word of God. Your life will condemn the would-be mockers, and will attract the searchers to your Saviour. -Jim MacIntosh