2 Thessalonians 2:10,11
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
People who are easily seduced by smooth talking and clever words of men's wisdom, have quite a bit of difficulty recognizing truth. The scripture above is referring to how the Anti Christ will be appealing in appearance, outwardly persuasive and not just a liar but a lying wonder, a master of deception.
For instance pimps know exactly what to say to make a lost girl feel good and despite the fact that he's lying to her and only plans to use her up like a dish rag for his own gain. Eventually a woman that follows a pimp has lost all ability to recognize truth from deception and over time they don't not even care that they're being lied to in fact they seemingly grow to love being lied to and develop an aversion to people who try to point out and tell them the truth.
Why don't they listen? Why do they continue to believe the pimp, even after enduring years of lie, after lie, deception after deception, one broken promise after another...
...why?
They don't have a love for the truth!
The only thing that can counter truth is a greater truth.
Eventually you have to face the Truth when the Truth keeps coming at you, flying directly in the face of deception and lies.Be careful what you believe and who you agree with. ( see Amos 3:3)
The context of 2 Thessalonians 2:10,11 is about salvation in the last days however, the principle remains the same for every area of life up to and including politics.
We must cultivate a love for truth so we don't fall victim to lies and deception. Cultivating a love for truth is our only protection against deception and self deception. One of my teachers used to define deception in a way that almost sounds ridiculously simplistic but in its childlike simplicity I find it to be profound.
He said people who are deceived truly believe they're walking in truth. Sounds silly doesn't it but there's no better way to say it, deception is a scary thing because a deceived person, in the depths of their heart, sincerely believes they are right.
The point is, if a person continues to reject the truth and embrace lies, God will eventually give that person over to a strong delusion. Once a person is walking boldly on a path of delusion, there's a lot less hope of them ever turning back, especially if they're on a path of a "strong" delusion.
It's not impossible for a person on a strong delusion to open their eyes to the truth because nothings impossible for God. In fact before being found by Jesus, we all were at one time deceived.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 2:2
in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
We were lost but now we're found, was blind and deceived, but now we see!
Kommentare