“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12).
This past week, we saw firsthand, people who believe the lie and are deluded. They celebrated their sin. I fear for their souls; not because the sin of homosexuality is unforgivable, but because they have been sent strong delusion by God, that they should believe the lie. God is not mocked, but these people are mocking Him, not realizing the consequences of their hardened hearts. The Word clearly says that God condemns them.
1 John 5:3 says:
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
And conversely, for a person to know the truth, and not obey it, is to face God’s wrath: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).
When a person knows the truth of the Word of God, yet denies it and refuses to obey it, they become a target for the enemy to deceive their minds.
Read what the Word says about these people who know the truth, but refuse to obey it:
“Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:21-32).
God has been telling man truth since the beginning of time. He told Adam and Eve how to obey Him. Eve was deceived by the enemy of our souls. Adam sinned willfully.
God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses to show His holiness and His standards. While he was receiving God’s Law on the mountain, the Israelites were building for themselves a golden calf to worship.
God sent His servants, the prophets, to tell people who were in sin, to come out from that sin and to obey the Lord. The prophets were hated and stoned throughout the Old Testament.
I have heard unbelievers say “Why should I obey God?” This truly shocked me. In asking that question, they were admitting that God is real, but in their defiance, they question why He should tell them how to live. I would respond to these people by asking if they admitted that God made the Universe and all that is in it. Some would say yes, but still wonder why He should be in control. At that point, I was nearly speechless. That kind of defiance in the face of God makes me shudder. These are the ones who know what is right, but love their sin more than the truth of God.
“Just as they have chosen their own ways,
And their soul delights in their abominations,
So will I choose their delusions,
And bring their fears on them;
Because, when I called, no one answered,
When I spoke they did not hear;
But they did evil before My eyes,
And chose that in which I do not delight” (Isaiah 66: 3b-4).
Jeremiah 14:10 says:
“Thus says the Lord to this people:
“Thus they have loved to wander;
They have not restrained their feet.
Therefore the Lord does not accept them;
He will remember their iniquity now,
And punish their sins.”
God is Love. But He is also Holy, Righteous and Just. He is not some monster who takes delight in making people sad. He made us. He knows that obeying Him will bring us joy. He knows that disobeying and loving sin will make people miserable; but more importantly, He cannot abide sin in His presence. He has offered a way for men and women to be reconciled to Him. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the debt for sin, a debt that we can never pay. He loves us. He wants us to be with Him for eternity. But He will not force Himself on anyone. He made us with free volition of will. Those who will spend eternity in His presence will be those who answered the call when He drew them to Himself.
Those who are going to hell, have only themselves to blame. We see John 3:16-17 so often, that I think that we forget it at times. We need to show our unsaved family and friends these verses often:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17)
Time is so short, brethren. Speak God’s Truth to everyone. To the homosexuals who are rejoicing over the SCOTUS decision — speak God’s truth to them. He loves these people and wants them to turn from their sin, and be saved.
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA!!