10 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. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-14.
God would not be a loving God if throughout one’s life he did not bring us face to face with the “love of the truth.” After all, it is through this truth that one escapes his wrath and the vulnerability to future deception. It is worthwhile to think back to a time when you were confronted with the truth and you “handled it” by believing. Through belief we are saved from the “deception of wickedness” and the “deluding influence” of Satan. Through belief we exchange the “pleasure of wickedness” for the full measure of God’s “grace and peace.” (1 Peter 1:2) This rendezvous with truth can be like the spherical passing of a comet. At its closest point is our opportunity to be saved. If the opportunity passes us by, it gets farther and farther away.
This sad reality should motivate us into the mode of rescuing those who come into our orbit. Perhaps there is a last chance to save them from deception and delusion. It is obvious that God offers us a clear choice at some point, but the flip side is the reality that God does the choosing and calling. But we cannot be dissuaded by our apparent inability to intercede in the salvation transaction or the administration of his will (verse 13). We deal with this mystery through prayer and by doing our job, that is to share the “love of the truth” anyway. From our vantage point, we can pray fervently that God will allow a “second chance,” and that we can participate in it.
Leave a Reply