Sheep

 

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

(Philippians 3:17-21 ESV)

 

Although we claim that we’re our own person, although we like to believe that we are free-thinkers, and although we insist that we make our own decisions and do things our own way, the opposite tends to be true. Even though we hate to admit it, we are sheep. Even though we hate to acknowledge it, we tend to follow the crowd. We tend to do exactly what everyone else is doing.

 

We wear what everyone else is wearing, and we’re critical of anything that doesn’t match the trending style. We watch the shows and the movies that everyone else is watching. We listen to the music to which everyone else is listening. We talk like those around us. And, of course, we think like those who surround us.

 

Whether this is done knowingly or unknowingly, this is the case. We are not the unique people that we believe ourselves to be. And we are not the rebels, we’re not the nonconformists, that we believe ourselves to be.

 

While this can certainly be a bad thing, if we’re following the wrong crowd, it can also be a positive thing. It depends upon the company we keep and the role models that we admire. If we’re looking to the right people, and following their example, it can be a great blessing.

 

This is why, in the above passage, Paul encouraged the people to imitate him. This is why he encouraged them to keep their eye on those who walk according to the example seen in him and his companions. As they followed the example of Paul, and as they emulated the faith of Paul, they would remain on the right course.

 

I realize that a statement like this may seem arrogant on the surface. It may seem that he’s holding himself up before others in a prideful way. And, for this reason, we’d be uncomfortable making a statement such as this.

 

We must realize, however, that Paul is not claiming perfection. Nor is he claiming to be sinless. He is, however, an example of the very faith he was proclaiming to others.

 

His focus, you see, was not on himself. Nor was it upon his obedience. His focus was on the cross of Christ. This was his source of comfort and assurance. And it was this to which he directed others.

 

For this reason, it’s people like this, it’s people like Paul, that we should emulate. We should imitate those who look only to the cross of Christ. We should seek to live like those who trust in Christ, and in Christ alone, for the salvation he provides.

 

And, in the same way, as we trust in Christ, we are that example for others. Although we must never think too highly of ourselves, we must realize that our hope in Christ is a model for those who surround us. As we walk through life, with our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can reveal to others what a life of faith looks like.

The Lord of Peace

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV)

Peace is something that we all crave. It’s something that we all desire. It’s something for which we all long.

However, that being said, it is also something that seems elusive. It’s something that seems distant. And it’s something that seems impossible to obtain.

As we live life in this world, it seems anything but peaceful. We hear about conflict between nations of the world. There is conflict on the political front. There is conflict in our community. There is conflict in our churches. And there is conflict in our families.

As we seek out this peace, our tendency is to think that it’s something that is ours to obtain. We believe that, if we include certain people in our life, we can have peace. We believe that, if we exclude others from our life, we can have peace. We believe that, if we place ourselves in the right environment, we can have peace. Or we believe that, if we work the right job, we will have peace.

We, then, do all that we can to grab hold of it. We do all that we can to obtain it. We do all that we can to place ourselves in a position where we will have this peace. We do so even if it means violating God’s law.

We fail to realize that the Lord alone is the source of our peace. We fail to realize that it’s he who can bestow this peace. And we fail to realize that, for this reason, we can have peace regardless of how our outward circumstances may seem.

In the above passage, Paul refers to Jesus as the Lord of peace. This tells us that he is the God of peace. He is the author of peace. We, therefore, can look to him for this gift of peace. He, in fact, is the only source of peace.

And this is what Paul wishes for the believers at Thessalonica. He asks that the Lord will give to them peace at all times and in every way. He asks that the Lord will give them a perpetual peace that will remain with them in every circumstance in which they might find themselves.

This is something we can have because the peace that Jesus gives to us is not subjective, but objective. It’s not simply a feeling of peace that can pass away when our circumstances become difficult. It is a real, outward reality. It’s not dependent upon our circumstances nor our emotions. It’s dependent only upon Jesus and what he’s done for us.

Although we were God’s enemies, we are no more. Although we were dead in our trespasses, we are no more. Although we were once far off, we are no more. By his sacrifice, he has made peace for us. He has obtained peace for us. And he has granted to us this peace, which is received through faith in him.

Judge Not?

^“If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 ESV)

 

The greatest of modern virtues is that you shall not judge. We’re reminded of this on a daily basis. And even though this belief is completely ripped out of the context in which Scripture presents it, we go along with this in the church.

 

What I mean is that little, if any, correction is offered by the church. Even if we preach the Word of God rightly, we offer little in the way of personal application. We are unwilling to address the sin in which our members live.

 

I’m not suggesting that we should make knowledge of their sin public. Nor am I suggesting that a spectacle be made of their wrongdoing. However, we turn a blind eye to it and ignore it.

 

By our silence, we give our tacit approval to their actions. We tell them that their lifestyle is acceptable before God. And we tell them that no confession, repentance, or forgiveness is necessary.

 

We see, in the passage above, Paul’s instruction for such an occurrence. And we must note that he is not addressing our dealing with unbelievers. He’s addressing our interaction with those who confess faith in Christ.

 

He says that if anyone does not obey the instruction given in this letter, we’re to take note of him. If anyone does not obey the instruction given in this letter, we’re to have nothing to do with him. We are not to associate with him or to have company with him.

 

However, even though we are to use this measure, we’re not to regard him as an enemy. We’re not to consider him as one whom we are against. We’re, rather, to warn him as a brother.

 

In other words, we are seeking not his harm, but his blessing. We are seeking not vengeance, but the salvation of his soul. We are seeking not his punishment, but his repentance.

 

This is not a lone passage where this teaching is presented. We see it throughout Scripture. And not only is it seen in the Old Testament, where we might feel that we can dismiss it as an outdated law. We see it also in the New.

 

We see this, for example, in 1 Corinthians 5:11, which says: “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”

 

There is a right way to go about this, of course. It’s to be done not in a spirit of condemnation, but one of love. However, Scripture is clear that this tool is to be used as we seek the salvation of souls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Face of Weariness

 

“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV)

 

As we live the Christian life, we sometimes become tired. We become tired as we witness the evil taking place in the world around us. We become tired as we deal with the sin of those who surround us. We become tired as we’re confronted by the ire of the unbelievers in our midst. We become tired as we deal with conflict and strife in the church. We become tired as we deal with our own struggle with sin. And we become tired as it seems to us that our efforts are futile.

 

Our natural response, in this fatigue, is to give up. Our natural response is to stop trying. Our natural response is to, at best, do nothing. And our natural response, at worst, is to live, behave, and believe like those among whom we abide.

 

Throughout the book of 2 Thessalonians, Paul had been talking to this congregation about the return of Christ. He talked about the Lord’s judgment. He talked about false prophecies and false christs. The talked about the man of lawlessness, and the disruption he’ll bring to the world. And he talked about those who confess faith in Christ while living a life of idleness.

 

As we read these words, it’s easy for us to understand how the Thessalonians may have grown tired. It’s easy to understand why they might want to give up. But in light of these truths, and in light of these circumstances, Paul called on them to press on.

 

He told them that they were not to grow weary in doing good. They’re not to tire of doing that which is good. In other words, they were to continue in their service of the Lord. No matter how things may have seemed, they were to continue to live as they had been called.

 

The same message speaks to us, today, right where we find ourselves. Rather than losing all hope and giving up, we’re to press on. We’re to continue living as we have been called. We are to continue in our service of the Lord, and we are to continue loving our neighbor, no matter how fruitless it may seem.

 

We are to do so knowing that it is never truly fruitless. We are to do so, bearing in mind the encouragement that he gave to the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 15:58, where he says: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

 

Serving the Lord is never empty. It’s never meaningless. No matter how things may seem, God is faithful to do his work, and he is faithful to work through us, that his purpose might be accomplished.

Boundaries

 

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 ESV)

 

We often debate, when it comes to political discourse, how to handle public welfare. We often debate to whom this help should be given, and in what instances. And we often debate to what extent it should be given.

 

In the above passage, however, this issue is discussed not as a matter of politics, but as a matter of church life. And, in this statement, Paul is very clear. As Christians, we are expected to work.

 

When I say this, of course, I’m not referring exclusively to work outside of the home. I’m referring to work in all of its forms. I’m referring to work as it is carried out in our typical vocations.

 

A stay-at-home parent, as a case in point, is not considered idle because she fails to work outside of the home. She would, however, be considered idle if she fails to carry out the duties of her vocation. She would be considered idle if she fails to care for her home, her children, and her husband.

 

Paul also does not expect those to work who are incapable of doing so. He calls upon the church to care for older widows. And generosity for those in need is clearly encouraged.

 

However, as we see above, Paul calls on Christians to disassociate from those, who profess faith in Christ, who are idle. He calls on us to keep away from those who are lazy. He calls on us to withdraw from those who are slothful or sluggish. And he calls on us to remove ourselves from those who, while they are unwilling to work, continually involve themselves in the affairs of others.

 

This type of lifestyle, he says, is not in accord with the tradition that he and his followers had passed on to them. He then holds himself up as an example. Even though he had a right to the support of the congregation, he worked hard while he was among them that he might not be a burden on them.

 

He also gave to them the command that, if anyone was not willing to work, he was not to eat. He did not permit those who were unwilling to work to receive such help. He did not allow them to, in this way, prey on the generosity of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

He commanded and encouraged such persons to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. He commanded them to work quietly and to eat their own bread. He encouraged them to work in a quiet fashion and to earn the food they ate.

 

As Christians, following through with this command feels anything but graceful. In fact, it may feel harsh and critical in nature. It, however, is a form of discipline. It’s a call to repentance. It’s a way of revealing to the idle the sinfulness of their inaction that they might receive the mercy of Christ.

Our Source of Confidence

 

“And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:4-5 ESV)

 

We’re often skeptical of people. We doubt them. And we do so for good reason. We do so, knowing that no one is perfect.

 

This is true of us, even as Christians. We know and believe that we are a sinful people. We know and believe that we are born in sin. And, for this reason, we are cynical. We are distrustful of others.

 

And, based on our experience, we may feel that we have good reason for this cynicism. We may feel that we have good reason for our lack of trust in others. After all, even those who love us most have failed us time and again.

 

However, our confidence in others is not dependent upon them. It’s not dependent upon their reliability. Nor is it dependent upon our past experience.

 

We see this in the above passage. Paul had been asking for the prayers of the believers at Thessalonica. He desired that they would pray for him and his ministry. And he went on to express a confidence in them.

 

He’s confident that they were doing the things he’d commanded. And he was confident that they would do the things he’d commanded. However, the basis of that confidence was not them. The basis of that confidence was the Lord.

 

“And we have confidence in the Lord about you,” he writes. It’s clear, then, that his confidence was not in them. His confidence was in the Lord.

 

And this makes complete sense. Even though people are imperfect, God is perfect. Even though they are fallible, God is infallible. And even though they are weak, God is strong. Although we have little, if any, reason to be confident in others, we have every reason to be confident in the Lord.

 

He knew that they were keeping his commands not because of any goodness or strength on their part, but because of the Lord and his work in their lives and hearts. And he knew that they would keep his commands in the days ahead, not because of any intrinsic holiness or piety, but because of the Lord and the strength he would provide.

 

Based on this, he blesses them, asking that the Lord would direct their hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. He asks that the Lord will direct them into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.  He asks that the Lord would direct their hearts into God’s love and Christ’s endurance.

 

This is also the reason that we can be confident in others. We can be confident in them because of the Lord. We can be confident in them because of his ongoing work in their life.

Missing the Obvious

 

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Luke 3:22 ESV

 

Many of us, in the course of our spiritual journey, come to believe that God is one whom we must seek out. We come to believe that he is one whom we must discover. We come to believe that God is someone whom we must pursue.

 

We, then, set out to do just that. We set out to do whatever it takes to discover God. We set out to do whatever is necessary to understand God.

 

While I tend to believe that our intentions in doing so are good, we are missing something. In fact, we are missing the obvious. We are missing the obvious because God has clearly revealed himself to us.

 

We see this, first of all, in our Christmas celebration. We see it there because God didn’t expect that we should come to him. Nor did he wait for us to come to him. He, rather, came to us.

 

God came to us in the flesh. He came to us, born as a baby. And he, then, lived among us.

 

We see this also in the third chapter of Luke. We see that Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized. And, after he’d been baptized, and as he was praying, the heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice spoke from heaven.

 

This voice declared the words that we read above. God declared that Jesus was his beloved Son. And he declared that he is well pleased with Jesus.

 

These words were spoken to Jesus, of course. But they were spoken to Jesus in the hearing of all who were there. They were spoken to Jesus in the hearing of all of those who had come to be baptized, as well as John the Baptist himself.

 

In this way, Jesus’ identity was made clear to them. They came to understand Jesus’ identity from the mouth of God himself. They were able to hear the voice of the Father speaking of Jesus’ identity.

 

We learn from this that God is not hidden from us. He isn’t one who conceals himself from us. We learn from this that God is one who comes to us and reveals himself to us.

 

Although you and I weren’t there to observe Jesus’ birth, and although we weren’t there to hear the voice of God at the time of Jesus’ baptism, the same is true for us. In Jesus, God himself comes to us. And God speaks to us, making clear the identity of Jesus.

 

He does so primarily through his Word. He does so primarily through Scripture. In this way, he speaks and reveals to us these truths.

 

And, for this reason, we need not do anything great. In fact, there is nothing at all for us to do. We need only to listen. We need only to receive his Word. We need only to believe the Word he has spoken.

 

Deliver Us From Evil

 

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV)

 

It’s clear to us, as we look at the world of today, that evil has grown. It’s clear to us that evil has become worse. We see it in world events as well as in the actions of individuals.

 

We see this also as we look over the course of time. What was once unthinkable has now become common. What was once absurd has now become very real and ordinary.

 

As we’re confronted with this evil, we wonder what can be done about it. We wonder where we can look for help. And we look to many individuals and institutions to provide that help.

 

We look to our legislators. We do so, believing they can create laws that will eliminate the evil with which we live. We look to the courts. We do so, believing that they can change the moral compass of our nation. We look to the military. We do so, believing that their might can not only hold evil at bay, but put an end to it in the places it is sent. We look to our schools and universities. We do so, believing that if only a better education is granted to more people, they will leave their evil thoughts and actions behind. And we look to psychologists, counselors, and health professionals. We do so, believing that the source of evil is nothing more than an illness or a disease to be treated.

 

In the prior two verses, Paul asked for prayer from the people. He asked for prayer that he and his companions might be delivered from evil, or from the evil one. “For not all have faith,” he reminds them.  But, as he goes on to state in the verse seen above, “the Lord is faithful.”

 

The Lord, he says, will establish them and guard them against the evil one. He will strengthen and protect them from the evil one. He will establish them and keep them from evil.

 

Although it’s a simple reminder, what is the source of our help? What is the source of our deliverance? That source is none other than the Lord.

 

Certainly, he can work through people and institutions to carry out his work. He can use legislators and the courts. He can use armies and military might. He can use the education system and health professionals. But we must bear in mind that he alone is the source of our aid.

 

We, then, must look to him. This, after all, is what Jesus taught us to do. He taught us to pray to the Father that he might deliver us from evil. He taught us to pray to the Father that he might deliver us from the evil one.

 

And, no matter how it may seem, we can know and believe that he will do just that. He will do so because he is faithful. He will do so because is both willing and able to guard us.

Assumptions

 

“Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 ESV)

 

So often, in life, we take things for granted. We assume that things will work out as they should. We simply trust that they’ll function as intended. And we presume that the desired results will be achieved.

 

For example, as I leave my house each morning, I take for granted that my car will start. I assume that it’ll fire up and take me where I need to go. I plan my day around the assumption that I’ll be able to get to the places I need to be. And this is true even when the weather is extreme.

 

Because of these assumptions, we give no real thought to them. We seemingly have no concern for them. We’re not worried or apprehensive about these things in any way.

 

This is true also when it comes to our faith. We take for granted that the Church will do its job. We take for granted that it will grow. We take for granted that our faith will spread. And we take for granted that people will honor his Word.

 

For this reason, we fail to pray for the salvation of souls. For this reason, because we take these things for granted, we fail to look to the Lord on behalf of the Church.  And, for this reason, we fail to look to the Lord on behalf of the unsaved.

 

We don’t tend to offer up the petitions requested by Paul in the passage above. We don’t ask that God’s Word would speed forth. We don’t ask that it would be honored. Nor do we ask that the Church might be delivered from evil men.

 

We simply assume that these things will happen. We assume that the Church will faithfully carry out its mission. We take for granted that God’s Word will speed forth because it is, after all, God’s Word. We expect that his Word will be honored. And we presuppose that the Church will be protected from those who intend it harm.

 

We see from Paul’s request, however, that these are needs that ought to be entrusted to the Lord. We see that these blessings cannot be taken for granted. Like every other blessing that we need or desire, these are things for which we are completely dependent upon God.

 

I can say, speaking for myself, that I value the prayers offered up for me, as I serve the Lord. I value the prayers offered up for the ministry of the church. I value them because it’s only with his strength and blessing that we can accomplish anything.

Chosen

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 ESV)

 

Because the Lord is God, and because he’s all-powerful, it is clear to us that he is sovereign. It’s clear to us that no one can impose his will upon him. And it’s clear that he is in control of all things.

 

This is true also when it comes to our eternal destiny. Scripture similarly speaks to us of predestination. It tells us that we, as believers, have been chosen by God to obtain his blessings. It tells us that we have been chosen by God as recipients of his salvation.

 

This, however, raises some questions, especially when it comes to his redemption. It raises some questions as Scripture is clear that God desires for all to be saved. And it’s clear that he is the propitiation, or that he’s the atoning sacrifice, for the sin of the whole world.

 

This being true, God cannot arbitrarily choose some to be saved and others to be damned. He cannot ordain that some will spend eternity in hell with no chance of obtaining forgiveness.  How, then, are those truths reconciled?

 

This confusion is explained away in the above passage. Paul says that he chose us as the first fruits of those who are being saved. Here, we see the element of God’s sovereignty and his divine will. But we’re told also how we are chosen. It’s explained to us on what basis we are chosen.

 

He tells us, first of all, that we are chosen through sanctification by the Spirit. And to be sanctified means to be made holy. So, we are chosen as we are made holy by the Holy Spirit.

 

This reminds us that we play no role in our salvation. It tells us that the work necessary for our salvation is performed by God. And it leads us to trust not in ourselves, but in God, for this great blessing.

 

He tells us also that we are chosen to be saved through belief in the truth. As most of us know, we receive the grace of God through faith in Jesus. And our faith is the basis of God’s choice.

 

What I mean is this: God has chosen for salvation those who trust in Christ. He has chosen for salvation those who believe the gospel. He has chosen for salvation those who, in this way, receive the blessings he’s graciously made available to all people.

 

Motivations

 

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

(Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

 

It’s that time of year when many of us make resolutions. We do so, viewing the new year as a new beginning. Recognizing our flaws, recognizing our sins, we want to do better.

 

Looking at it in terms of our faith, this is a good attitude. It’s a healthy attitude. As we live an ongoing life of repentance and faith, we turn from our sin and we look to Christ.

 

However, as we make resolutions, as we seek to better ourselves, I’ve noticed something. Christ is not the focus of the changes we want to make. We are.

 

The goal for many of us, with the new year, is to lose weight. This is why gym memberships take off at the beginning of each year. And, again, our motivation for doing so is to improve our health. It’s to improve the way that we feel.

 

The same is true when it comes to our eating habits. Many of us resolve to improve this aspect of our lives. And, again, our motivation for doing so is our own health. It’s to improve the way that we feel.

 

Many of us focus on other aspects of life. We resolve to live a simpler life. We resolve to buy less and to save more. And we resolve to be more generous.

 

Even though this sounds laudable, our motivation is once again ourselves. By doing this, we’re told, our life will be less stressful. Living in this way, we’re told, will reduce worry from our life.

 

Still others among us see that we need to be more forgiving. And, as we seek to do so, we focus on the personal benefits of forgiveness. We say that we offer forgiveness not for the sake of the person who wronged us, but for our own benefit. We do so because it frees us from bitterness and resentment.

 

There may be truth in each rationalization we make. Losing weight and eating better will certainly improve our health and the way that we feel. Living a simpler life will certainly reduce stress. And forgiving others does offer to us a sense of freedom.

 

However, even if we receive these side benefits as we repent of our sin and resolve to make these changes, Christ should be our primary motivation. We should desire to make these changes in service of Christ. And we should desire to make these changes for the glory of Christ.

 

In the third chapter of Colossians, Paul was instructing believers how to live with one other. He tells wives to submit to their husbands. He tells husbands to love their wives. He tells children to obey their parents. He tells fathers that they’re not to provoke their children. He tells servants to obey their masters.

 

Now, it’s certainly true that doing these things will lead to a more peaceful life. It will result in less conflict. It will lead to personal blessings as well as blessings for those who surround us.

 

However, he closes with the verses above. After telling them to do these things, after instructing them to live in this way, he tells them that, whatever they do, they are to work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. In other words, their focus was not to be on man, but on Christ.

 

Wives were to submit to their husbands for the Lord’s sake. Husbands are to love their wives for the Lord’s sake. Children are to obey their parents for the Lord’s sake. Fathers are to parent their children for the Lord’s sake. And servants are to obey their masters for the Lord’s sake.

 

Even though, as we follow these instructions, it’s clear that others will benefit, and even though it’s true that we ourselves will benefit, this shouldn’t be our primary motivation. We’re to do these things out of our love for the Lord. We’re to do them in service of the Lord. And we’re to do so knowing that he is the source of all blessings.

 

 

 

Truth Matters

 

 “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ESV)

 

One thing that is clear is that there is both truth and error. There is both truth and falsehood. Although this is often rebuffed by a society which tells us that truth is relative, there is no denying it.

 

Even those who deny the truth make this clear as they flip reality on its head, painting the truth as falsehood. What God calls good, they call evil. What Scripture calls sinful, they call good. And they condemn those who hold to the truth, given to us by God.

 

They do so, however, to their own harm. As we see in the passage above, truth matters. The love of the truth, Paul says, effects salvation. The love of truth leads to salvation.

 

The rejection of the truth, however, does just the opposite. The refusal of the truth leads to judgment. It leads to condemnation.

 

The refusal of truth leads to our deception. It leads us to believe a lie. And this is the work of the enemy. It’s the work of Satan.

 

The means used by Satan is that of deceit. He is the father of lies, Jesus told the Jews in John chapter 8. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, because he is a liar.

 

Yet, even though this is true, it’s not as though they are duped. It’s not as though they are fooled or conned. We know this because it’s not their deception that leads them to refuse the truth. It’s their refusal of the truth that leads to their deception.

 

Because they refuse the truth, because they refuse to love the truth, God sends to them a strong delusion. And he does so that they might believe what is false. He does so that they might be condemned.

 

Therefore, they cannot blame God for the judgment they receive. Nor can they blame the enemy, and his tactics of delusion. They can blame only themselves.

 

They perish, you see, because of their own guilt. God gives them over to the very evil they have chosen. And they, in turn, receive the penalty they are due.

Overwhelmed by Tradition

 

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.””

(Luke 2:8-11 ESV)

 

The Christmas season is something that we all enjoy. And there are different aspects that appeal to each of us. Many of us, for example, enjoy the music. Many of us enjoy the decorations. Many of us enjoy cooking and baking. Many of us enjoy gathering with family and friends. Many of us enjoy buying and giving gifts to our friends and loved ones. Many of us enjoy watching Christmas movies. And many of us simply enjoy it all.

 

While there are many fun aspects of our holiday celebration, it often becomes overwhelming. All of these traditions, which are supposed to be fun and relaxing, turn into a chore. And this leaves us stressed out and tense.

 

We lose our enjoyment of the season. And, worse yet, we forget what our celebration is all about. It gets moved to the back burner while we focus on all of these peripheral activities.

 

We tend to think that, apart from these traditions, the holiday is ruined. We tend to think that, apart from these traditions, it loses its meaning. We tend to think that, apart from these traditions, Christmas is boring and bland.

 

We fail to recognize that, even if these traditions were completely stripped away, Christmas would remain. We can take away the decorating. We can take away the cooking and baking. We can take away the Christmas parties. We can take away the mandated and forced family time. We can take away the buying and giving of gifts. And, when we do so, the meaning of the day is left unchanged.

 

In fact, we may find it more enjoyable rather than less. We may find that removing the stress brought on by all of these traditions makes the day even more meaningful. We may find that a more relaxed holiday celebration is more pleasant and profound.

 

As we’re reminded in the passage above, Christmas is about Jesus. It’s about his coming into the world. It’s about his birth, and the blessing this is. It’s about the gift of God given to each and every one of us.

 

It was the message of the Savior’s birth that was proclaimed by the angels. It was the announcement of his birth that is good news of great joy. It was the news of his birth that excited the shepherds so that they went in search of him.

 

It’s this, you see, that gives meaning to the day. It’s this that makes the holiday. And it’s this that we celebrate.

 

All of these other things, all of the traditions in which we take part, are meant to point us to Jesus. They are meant to focus our attention on him. They are not meant as a distraction from that which is truly important.

 

As I say this, I’m not encouraging a stripped-down version of Christmas. I’m not encouraging you to leave all of your traditions behind. What I’m saying is that, if the traditions are taking away from our celebration of the holiday, perhaps it’s best that we let them go, at least some of them.  Perhaps we let some of them go for only this year. Perhaps it’s best to let them go and to focus on what the day is truly about.

Faithful in the Face of Deception

 

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 ESV)

 

The return of Christ is something to which we all look forward. In fact, this is a part of our celebration of Advent. As the saints of old looked forward to Jesus’ first coming, we look forward to his second.

 

We look forward to it because of the blessing it will be. We look forward to it as it marks the end of this age. And we look forward to it as it means the end of sin and death.

 

We recall, however, that his coming will be unexpected. No one knows the day nor the hour of his return. And, prior to his coming, life will seem quite ordinary. Prior to his coming, life will simply continue on as normal.

 

But one thing we know for certain is that, before he comes, the rebellion will take place. And the word from which this is translated refers to an apostasy. It refers to a departure from God, or a rebellion against God.

 

Before Jesus returns, the man of lawlessness will also be revealed. And this is the man who is referred to, elsewhere in the New Testament, as the antichrist. We’re told that he opposes and exalts himself against every god or object of worship. And we’re told that he will take his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

 

The identity of this man has always been a source of great speculation. Luther believed him to be the pope. And throughout history, there have been many who have committed acts of great evil.

 

There has also been a great deal of speculation regarding how this will all unfold. As he sets himself up in the temple, some think of a rebuilt Jewish temple. And others say that he will set himself up in the Church.

 

This, however, is something about which we need not speculate. Knowing the Lord, and trusting the Lord, this man of lawlessness will be recognizable. His identity will be plain as he sets himself up against, or even alongside, the Lord.

 

The key for us as we await the return of Christ, the key for us as we anticipate the return of Christ, is to remain faithful. We must keep our eyes fixed upon him and him alone. We must trust in the One revealed to us in the Word. And, in this way, we will not be deceived.

 

But we must be prepared. We must know that, as the end approaches, this is going to happen. We can, therefore, expect it. We can watch for it. And we can do so with hope. We can do so knowing that, as this takes place, the Lord’s return is drawing near.