Mark 8:38 reads, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” The term “adulterous and sinful generation” describes every generation. No matter when we live, there will be people who mock Christ’s followers. The question for me is: Will I be ashamed of the world’s adulterous and sinful ways or will I be ashamed of Jesus?
Looking at this verse brought to mind Jeremiah 8:9, “The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?” While there are many things that can be learned from people who reject God’s word, I should expect to find some errors in their thinking—they are missing the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Those who reject God’s word are living from a faulty worldview. I think this is one reason I can afford to let the world laugh at me. By choosing Jesus, I’m choosing true wisdom.