8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
I ask myself often, how people can be so blind. For an example, how can so many people believe a person can determine their sex when it is so obvious what they were at birth. Society changes laws and practices based on their delusion.
When we read about spiritual things, how can people be so blind to the reality of salvation in Jesus and repeatedly reject the truth. There comes a point God honors their indecision or rejection. God gives them up to believe a lie. They are now blinded to the truth. Deception was God's judicial act for the judgment of unbelief. In the end times people will have turned so far from God they will be ready to accept the Antichrist, who will proceed forth from the father of lies, the devil.
How many warnings do people need against such things as AIDS and the immoral activity that leads to it, or lung cancer, or alcoholism, or drug addiction? Yet, many harden their hearts against even secular warnings and pay the consequences. They have been given up for the desires of their hearts. Given in to delusions.
It is sad when the heart of man becomes so stubborn and determined in its attitude toward God that it takes pleasure in sin. It is a horrible commentary in Romans 1 when the Word says that the unregenerate did not like to retain God in their knowledge and “so God gave them up. and he adds this terrible conclusion "who, knowing the judgment of God that they who commit such things are worthy of death. Not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them."
Responsibility for their blindness, their lack of discernment of the truth and error, their captivity to sin, rests upon men themselves not upon the predestination of God because they would not have God in their minds. They are doomed by God’s decree. Being warned should produce change in your life.
Pray that we might completely give our hearts and minds to the works of the Lord and be on guard against delusions. Be a student of the Bible. Let God’s truths speak to you as your defense against false teaching.
Application: The days are already upon us when truth is rejected and lies abound. Can you tell the difference?
Prayer: I need thee, oh I need thee
Every hour I need thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to thee.
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