2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NIV)

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.

Observation

The lie that is believed and served here is that there is only one life to live and that life is here and now while we are on Earth. We are to trust in our senses, what we see, touch, feel, hear and taste. We are to look to our circumstances and live by them. Therefore, we need to make the most out of life while we are still living. We are our own masters. We make our fortune and anything that comes against us such as sickness and poverty is just bad luck. Everybody dies, we can’t do anything about that (we’re trying). Ultimately, we are to live this life for number one. Ourselves.

In this world, there are many “successful” people we can look to for confirmation that living how we choose is the best way to live. Rich and famous people who appear to not have a care in the world. Some people live their entire lives and never appear to be brought low before the public. It is only years after their death that we hear of troubled times and the truth of their wretched existence is revealed. This powerful delusion, therefore, is something that confirms the lie. Things confirm the lie. Many people are chasing after fame, fortune, and power. Some will receive fame, fortune, and power. The very things that people believe will set them free are those things that entangle them.

I want to be rich, you may say. Why aren’t I rich? Why aren’t I getting the things that support this lie? The lie works because you pursue it. It’s enough that some people catch fame, fortune, and power. It’s enough that there are people who are “successful” and do not know God. It’s enough for people who do not know God to stand and shout, “Look at me! Look at me!” It’s enough that we can look around us at the squalor and apply our reasoning to why things are the way that they are. It’s enough to believe the lie while we perish in our sins. We’re believing the lie as long as we chase “the dream.”

If that’s the lie. What’s the truth? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). We were not created to serve ourselves. We were created to be a part of God’s family. We were created to love God, serve Him, and love other people. Not one person who has ever lived or will live will be born and bring anything into this life but their component parts. A body, soul, and mind. All of us know that nobody lives forever. These bodies of our’s die. They rot away and are nothing. When we die, not one person will take anything from this life into the next. You can own the whole world and everything in it, but when you die, you will not be able to take any of it with you.

All that we have to work on in this life that matters is our character. The essence of who we are as a person is what matters. Let’s think about this for a moment. How do we judge other people when we have had a view of their character? Does it matter that so and so is the best-looking person around when they are mean? How important is someone’s money when the person is rude? Is it the person that people want to be around or the money? How about the person who has nothing? They aren’t attractive, they’re poor and yet they are the kindest and sweetest person around. Of course, being poor or unattractive doesn’t mean that one is kind, not rude, etc. We may look to the outside and think one thing but when we can get a glimpse of the inside, we may often think something else. The character carries on when wealth is gone.

Another truth is that none of us, not one of us, is truly good on the inside, where it counts. We are all self-centered. I’m not saying that there aren’t nice and kind people in this world. I will say that none of us has the ability, on our own, to truly be good, to serve other people without cause. Without God, we can do nothing good. God is good. God is love. God is everything wonderful and pure. God is the reason you don’t like hearing that no one is really good on the inside. You cannot imagine that you aren’t good. That you can’t be good. Because you want to be good. You. Want. To be. Good. You want to love others and be loved.

And you can. There is a way that you can love others and be loved. A way of joy, hope. laughter and love! You can become the person that you were created to be. “But I like who I am,” you might be thinking. Good, there’s nothing wrong with liking yourself. That’s kind of the problem though, don’t you think? That self-centered issue we’ve been talking about. I can tell you this, you may love yourself but you will never be able to love yourself the way that God loves you.

God loves you and wants you to spend the rest of eternity with Him. He loves you so much that Jesus, His only Son, died for you, that your sins would be forgiven. That you, through Jesus, would be able to love and be loved. Eternal life is just a prayer away. If you haven’t given your life to Jesus then I encourage you to do so right now, today. Just pray this prayer:

Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need and want Your forgiveness. I accept Your death as the penalty for my sin and recognize that Your mercy and grace is a gift You offer to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have done. Cleanse me and make me Your child. By faith, I receive You into my heart as the Son of God and as Savior and Lord of my life. From now on, help me live for You, with You in control.
In Your precious name, Amen

If you prayed that prayer then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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