Refusing the truth

… because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:10b-12 NLT

Paul continued to describe what will happen in the last days when the man of lawlessness will lead a rebellion against God and the truth He represents. Since they refused to believe God’s message of salvation for they prefer the lie perpetuated by God’s enemies, they will be then “greatly deceived.” Paul also dealt with about this matter in his letter to the Romans where he described how humanity continued to embrace wickedness and self-exaltation, “So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies” (1:24). This is also what will take place before Christ returns. God will oblige to humanities’ selfish and devious desires. They will be so deluded that they will be “enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.” Great will be the consequences of such willful rejection of the truth. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “They will be condemned” because they chose to be deceived and bought the lie. Truth and unrighteousness are mutually exclusive. Either you follow the truth that results to godliness or follow the lie and live in wickedness. There is no neutrality in issues regarding the truth and righteousness. Refusing to accept the truth is rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ claimed that He is the way the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father except through Him (see John 14:6). The more a person believes the lies of Satan, the more that person will be in bondage in sin. This will result to a hardened heart that refuses to believe the truth. God’s judgment is always fair and just but we can avoid His judgment if we accept His offer of life. “…the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). God does not find pleasure in judging those who refuse His offer. “‘Says the Sovereign Lord, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live’” (Ezekiel 33:11). The example shown by the believers in Thessalonica is worth following for they accepted the message of salvation proclaimed to them; “for you believed what we told you about him” (2 Thessalonians 1:10). People are saved from the coming judgment and destruction for they received the truth.

Blessings,