"…because they did not receive the love of the truth, so as to be saved."
" Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11
I have a Bible study meeting in my home on Sunday afternoons, and we are studying the books of Thessalonians. As I was studying for it this week I came across these thought provoking verses. Thessalonians deals with the end times and often sends us into Revelations. It is a lot to try to understand, but as I was reading these verses one thing became simple and clear — we must have a love of the truth. The people were deceived and perished, because they had no love of God’s Word which is our only weapon to counter the lies of the prince of this world. There is no knowledge you can possess as profitable and powerful as the knowledge of what is revealed in Scripture.
It is also clear satan is going to appear to be ruling with all power, with signs and wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness. Note it is all lies and deception. He is the father of lies. The truth is not in him, and it won’t be in you either without a love for the truth of God’s Word. But if you read closely you will know God is in complete control always and forever. Jesus is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and will reign forever with all that are His eternally.
The first time Jesus came to earth it was not to condemn or judge the world, but to save it. (John 12:47, 3:17) He offered up Himself and died, so we might be delivered from the wrath of the Lamb to come. However, when He returns to earth this next time, it will be in wrath and judgement! We read in Revelation 6:16-17:
and they said to the mountains and to the rocks,
"Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
I have lived my life wrapped in the loving arms of my Savior through trials and triumphs, so I had a difficult time seeing that same God, my Father, and my Savior Lamb, Jesus, dealing out their wrath and justice on all who chose to reject the sacrificial Lamb who came to this earth, and died for all mankind. And yet I was comforted to know that there is a righteous Judge who will not make any misjudgements. He knows all, and nothing will be hidden on that day. All wrongs will be made right. That is a good thing. It must be so. I felt great relief that the whole truth will be known about everyone’s life. Judgement and rewards will be served for every individual. Rich, or poor of the poorest, greatly known and the totally unknown, educated and the illiterate. No one will not be fairly judged by the One Righteous Judge, and what was done in secret will be rewarded or receive just judgement.
For those who have chosen to love the truth we anxiously await His coming justice as the martyrs were in Revelation 6:9 as we read:
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain, because of the Word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained, and they cried out with a loud voice saying,
"How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging, and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
God tells them to rest a little longer so the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. No one is ever forced to give their life for God anymore than Jesus was. He told us no one took His life; He made the choice to lay down His life for all mankind. (John 10:18) There is no greater privilege for the true bride of Christ than to have the opportunity to do the same as we focus on the opportunity to give our all as He gave His all for us.
I hope we all know God is a God of love. He is love. Psalm 145:8-9 tells us:
The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all His works."
God is full of grace and patience. He has given all every opportunity to choose salvation through the death of His Son who was the only One worthy to be our sacrificial Lamb. He was sinless. God has provided for all eternal life with Him, but is is our choice. Please know you will never make the right choice without a knowledge of truth that can only come from God Himself through His Words and the power of the Holy Spirit that is ours for the asking. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus extends this invitation:
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
Jesus won’t force His way in anyone’s life. He is the perfect gentleman. He won’t break down the door. You must ask, seek, and knock. He cannot lie. You will get results. May you allow God to give you a love for the truth, so you will not perish as the day of reckoning is quickly approaching for all mankind.
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
I was especially blessed this week to see His mercies over all His creation as I witnessed it at Cascade Falls and Grandfather Mountain dressed in their beautiful fall decor!
