2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

And because of this, God sends a work of deception to them in order for them to believe the lie in order that all the ones who did not believe by the truth but rather took pleasure in unrighteousness should be judged.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

God sends a work of deception among them.  Does this mean that God is to blame for the fact that they don’t believe?  Absolutely not!  Remember what we talked about yesterday.  None of us can believe on our own.  The only way that we can know the truth is by receiving the ability from God.  He wants all of us to know the truth.  He gives all of us that opportunity.  Yet, some reject that gift.  To those who reject the ability to receive the truth, God then sends something else to believe.  The people who have already rejected God’s offer to know the truth will receive the lie.  God does not force them to believe the lie, He simply gives us an opportunity to see which we would rather believe.  We have the option to receive a love for truth.  We also have an option to lie falsehood.  But it is ultimately our choice.

Do you love the truth or the lie?  Is it ever tempting to believe the lie?  Is it ever hard to believe the truth?

Second Thought:

Why do we love the falsehood?  We love it because we take pleasure in unrighteousness.  This isn’t really an “us” versus “them” position.  We all love the rebellion.  It’s called sin.  Every single one of us has a heart that seeks rebellion and unrighteousness.  The difference is that those who love the truth acknowledge that their love for unrighteousness is wrong.  We acknowledge that it is sin, it is not desired by God, and it is our human failing.  We can be forgiven of it.  We are forgiven and made righteous, not inherently righteous on our own.

When do you love unrighteousness?  Where is your sin in your life?  Do you acknowledge that sin is there?

Third Thought:

There are few definite articles as powerful as the definite article in 2 Thessalonians 2:11.  God sends a work of deception in order for them to believe the lie.  They don’t believe a lie.  They don’t even believe false things.  They believe the lie.  What lie do they believe?  They believe the ultimate lie.  They believe the same lie that Satan gets all of us to try and believe.  They believe the same lie that Satan used against Eve.  They believe that we can be like God.  They believe that they will be so moral, so intelligent, and so wise that we can figure anything out.  That is the lie.  Satan’s great lie is to get us to believe so much in humanity that we forget our need for God.  Now it should all make sense.  Why do people not receive the ability to love truth as we spoke about yesterday?  They don’t receive it because they don’t believe they need it.  If we are like God, then what need do we have for Him?  That’s the lie.  That’s what we must never believe.  We are not like God.  He is different.  He alone is holy.  We need Him.  That’s truth.

What do you believe: the lie or the truth?  Do you live in a manner that relies upon your own ability or upon God’s ability?  Do you live according to the lie or the truth?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Thessalonians 2:13