2 Thessalonians
2:3-12
As I was reading these verses, this thought flooded my mind;
what chance does a person have in a battle or war that has no understanding of
the enemy that is seeking to destroy them? As I reflected on that thought, it explained so much about
the church of 2011, the apostle Paul was instructed by God to tell us about an
enemy that is unseen but has been allowed authority on this earth for a
season. Paul did not address this
message to the unbeliever, but to the Church, and yet the majority live with no
regard or understanding that they are engaged in a battle of kingdoms. If you read Ephesians 6:10-18, ask the
Holy Spirit to open your eyes to this truth, because without a clear
understanding you will live in defeat!
The battle is taking place with rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers
over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly places.
It may come as a shock to many Christians, but you have
never been lucky, not one thing has ever happen by chance, God has never been
surprised at any of your circumstances.
So if many who go by the name of Christian do not understand this truth,
what chance does the non-believer have? I always come back to this truth, God once spoke through a
donkey to get the attention of Balaam, and my prayer is that I will be foolish
enough to believe God can speak to you from this written word.
A few days ago, a friend told me that he just could not buy
that God would only accept in heaven those who put their trust in Christ,
referring to what Jesus said, John 14:6, “Jesus
said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.” And now the line is drawn in the sand, I did not say
that, Jesus did, and I agree that “Faith” believes Jesus, who is God, cannot
lie, that He tells the truth. But
my friend said, “what about the American Indian who never heard of Jesus, I’m
sorry I could not believe in a God who is that cruel.” And my thoughts went to, could you believe
in a God who would send His only Son to die in your place, to reclaim you from
sin? Could you believe in a God
who before He created you or anything, knew that He would ask His only Son the
Creator, to die for His creation?
And would you trust a God who was not able to keep His written word from
be contaminated? I must testify, I
must confess that I believe that Christ came to save sinners, and I agree with
the apostle Paul that I am one of them.
So we come full circle back to 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, and
the man of lawlessness who God is restraining at this time. But it may be on any day that he will
come on the world stage, and it is clear to anyone with eyes, that lawlessness
is already at work. It is
imperative to understand that this person will be empowered by Satan with
powers and false signs and wonders, and all wicked deception for those who are
perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Now this may come as a real shock, but
it is written; “Therefore God sends them a strong
delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be
condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.” It is
so important that you understand that God did not send Jesus to condemn the
world but to bring salvation, but if you read John 3:16-18, there is a message
to those who refuse to believe and put their trust and hope in the finished
work of Christ.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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