"The coming of the lawless one is
according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not
receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason
God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they
all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NKJV
What to believe? In the past few weeks this has been a
question on virtually everyone’s mind. On
the subject of the coronavirus, many wonder are we being told the truth, or a
lie? My personal belief is that with God’s
help, believers are able to discern what is true or false. Unfortunately, if you have followed the
rhetoric by those of a liberal bent being directed towards Christians lately,
you may have noticed that some of the terms they use come directly from the Bible.
The problem for them, however, is the fact that they fail to notice those terms
are not used in the Word in reference to believers, but rather are reserved to
describe nonbelievers. You see, rather than believers being “delusional” because of their beliefs,
it is the unbelievers who reject the truth as revealed by God who are described
in this passage from Paul as being deluded.
In this chapter, Paul is addressing
the believers at Thessalonica concerning their fear that the tribulation might
have already begun. Here Paul reassures them by explaining just what
needs to occur before that time begins. As he describes the coming of the
antichrist, he makes it very clear that his acceptance will be abetted by the
fact that those who remain after the rapture of the Church are here “because
they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved”. The
truth, according to one commentary I read, is that these people will be
deceived by the antichrist because they want to believe his lies.
What we see right now, all around us
are the lines being drawn between those who choose to believe the truth as God
has revealed it and those who choose to reject it. The Greek word for
“delusion” is translated as a “mental straying, error, wrong opinion
relative to morals or religion”. If one chooses to believe that the
Bible is the inspired Word of God, then there should never be any question as
to what to believe because the Word makes it abundantly clear what God thinks,
especially as it pertains to morals and religion, and He has also made it very clear as to what will occur and what to watch for as this world approaches it's final destiny. The only question
before us is do we choose to accept and believe what God has to say, or reject and disobey?
In the first chapter in the book of
Romans, Paul explains in more detail what delusional people are like. We
are basically told that it is when a person chooses to reject the truth of God;
God will then “give them up” to their choice to be “deluded”. The Greek
phrase used here means simply to allow or permit them to believe as they
wish. As one commentator put it, “people can eventually come to the
place where it is impossible to believe”. Neither you nor I know
where this line may be drawn, but God does. It is at this point that God
will then “give them up” and allow them to believe the lies they have chosen to
follow. Paul describes them this way;
"For the wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress
the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in
them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were
thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were
darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of
the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and
four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among
themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and
served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For
this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged
the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men
committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their
error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are
not fitting;" Romans 1:18-28 NKJV
The “debased” mind in verse twenty
eight is also translated “reprobate” in the King James Version, and in the
Greek it literally means “unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication,
worthless (literally or morally):—castaway, rejected, reprobate” according
to Strong’s Definitions (1890). If you are like me and look around at
what we are seeing today from society as a whole, and witnessing the scorn and
persecution of not only believers but anyone who disagrees with what the media is presenting as truth beginning to make the weekly news, does it not feel as
if the stage is set for the ‘delusion” to take place? Already we can see the divide between those who question what they are being told, and those who choose to believe whatever "facts" the media puts forward. Considering the
extent to which many have not only rejected, but are beginning to attack those
who choose to believe the truth, is it hard to understand why they will be so
easily deluded by the appearance of the antichrist at the end of this
age?
When discussing the passage from
Thessalonians, Ray Stedman put it this way; “However, the deception can only
take root in those who do not receive the love of the truth. These people are
ready for the deception of the antichrist, because they want a lie, and God
will send them a strong delusion.” This delusion will be in the person of the man of
sin who deceives the whole world with his “power, signs, and lying
wonders”. People will flock to him and believe because they have
already rejected the truth of God and want to believe the lies the antichrist
has for them. I, and many others, believe we can see this already in the willingness of so many to accept what is being presented on a daily basis in the media without question or critical examination.
Paul makes it
very clear that these people have no excuse. It is not that they don’t
know of God, but rather that they have seen and chosen to reject. Now you tell
me, who do you believe is truly delusional; those who have chosen to believe
the “love of the truth” or those “who exchanged the truth
of God for the lie”? This world may well be full of delusional
people, but according to God, it’s not His believers. True believers understand fully what is happening right now in this world, and exactly where and when it is all going to end. If you have never made the decision to accept
the free gift of eternal life provided for us all by the death and resurrection of God's Son, Jesus Christ, I encourage you to do so today. Simply ask God to forgive
you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your
sin, and turn over control of your life to Him. You can do that right now
by praying a prayer just like this one;
"Dear
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I
turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my
personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."
Rejoice always, pray without
ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
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