Walking with the Wise #208: Rejoicing in Rebuke

“A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise."
—Proverbs 15:12

Living for God means ordering one’s life to please Him, doing whatever is necessary to grow, to change, to order and place one’s life under God’s authority. But it is not easy—there will be times of painful rebuke, and hard lessons that cut to the core of who we are, but take heart—God is honing you to be what He wants you to be. Therefore, if you want to be wise in the sight of God, then seek to be with the wise, listen to them when they speak, and do what they say, no matter how painful the rebuke or lesson.

If one refuses to be wise, then they will pursue the life of the fool. A fool is one who chooses the path of least resistance, who loves sin and stupidity more than the Savior, and who hates hearing words of rebuke. But there are those who take their foolishness to a whole new level; they not only turn from God, they put down those who are pursuing Him. They are the scoffers, the ones who mock and make fun of others for their faith. But do not be discouraged by them. They will not grow in wisdom, nor will the Lord bless their life. In fact, the Bible says an increased amount of scoffers shows that we are in the last days:

“…you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation’”—2 Peter 3:2-4.

They will mock the coming of the Lord, but we are reminded that they overlook the fact that God created everything by His word, and

“…by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed”—2 Peter 3:7-10.

As we continue to press on until the day when our Lord comes again, may we follow the words of Jude:

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh”—Jude 1:20-23.

May the Lord our God enable us to seek wisdom, delighting in Him, standing true as scoffers scoff, knowing that God’s coming judgment is certain, His salvation is sure, and we are secure in His love—both now and for eternity. Amen.