Have a Good Laugh

Read Genesis 18-19
 
Genesis 18:12-14 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
 
THE LORD is persistent in accomplishing his will through those whom he chooses. As Sarah, we will doubt, even laugh at the thought I AM would do something far beyond our understanding. In truth, it can be very difficult to release our doubts and become confident in God’s promises. Considering changes to come in our lives are far beyond reality to us. We live in certain circumstances for so long that something new is impossible to see.
    Remember though: God formed the world out of himself. He has personally formed your life, too. Sarah would discover the Creator’s personal touch on her life. One day she would rejoice, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:6) She had a “good” laugh when Isaac was born.
   You will have a good laugh, too, when you see the I AM’s creative touch shape your life to his will.
 
Judgment is No Joke
 
Genesis 19:14 So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking.  
 
SARAH laughed at the LORD’s promise to provide a son, and Lot’s would-be sons-in-law laughed at God’s promise to judge and destroy. Why is it that both the world and Christians too often hear God’s promises of salvation and destruction as a joke? Our world has certainly made Hell into a joke. Cartoons, comedians and Halloween costumes trivialize and give a light-heartedness to Satan, demons, and Hell’s eternal horror.
   When Hell is small, the world has no urgency to repent. Minimizing Hell also removes a Christian’s urgent responsibility to tell of God’s judgment and salvation. If we think Hell is “not so bad” then we can excuse ourselves for keeping Hell’s torture and the gospel’s saving message to ourselves. After all, why would we want to offend someone to talk of sin, judgment, destruction and punishment? They will just laugh at and mock us, won’t they?
   Maybe they will. Maybe they won’t. Maybe they will say, “Thank you for telling me of sin’s penalty. Thank you for pointing me to Jesus’ saving grace.” We are to tell because I AM commands it as a means of people coming to faith.
   Are you a Christian? Thank the Holy Spirit he has awakened you to know God’s judgment and blessing. Then be Christ’s ambassador to declare his mercy to those who repent. He will do as he says: Judge and Save.
 
What Do You Think? Would Jesus have suffered the cross if Hell is a joke?