“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 2:9-12

It is a mess out there!  There has always been dissension between religions, but now there is confusion and chaos between denominations as well.   Deceivers within the church are as cunning as deceivers outside the church.  Deception is hallmark of Satan’s rule on this earth, and if we let down our guard, he will take advantage. What kind of people surround us?  The apostle John lets us know, “You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars.”  (John 8:44).   Satan is a liar, so those who work for him are liars, too, but how do we discern truth in such confusing times.

We are told that God is not the author of confusion, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints”   (1 Corinthians 14:33), but we are surrounded by false and confusing doctrines that do not come from God so how do we keep from being deceived?  The deceiver began his enlistment in the garden and has not stopped yet. He even finds pastors ready to serve as his accomplices in preying upon the weak rather than praying for the weak. Dr. Luke tell us to, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30).  So we are surrounded by deceit, confusion, and conflict.  What are we to do?

In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. it says that the people deceived by Satan’s craftiness “did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” It is not sufficient to know about the truth, we must also accept the truth and love the truth.  We might academically understand the Bible, but the Bible is more than just an academic pursuit. My first couple of years at Douglas I took over a class called New Testament literature (I know, hard to believe that a class like that existed). When the principal talked to me about teaching the class, he emphasized that I needed to keep myself reigned in and teach it strictly as literature and not try to change anyone. I will admit, that was tough. But unfortunately, that is the way that many approach the Bible today. They read it, but they don’t allow it to change their lives and then are as easy prey for the devil as those who don’t read the Bible at all.  So our first defense is to allow the Word into our hearts.

Another thing that Paul tells us in this verse is that they “had pleasure in unrighteousness.” When we read the Bible strictly for the literature, but don’t allow it to affect our behavior, we will be easily decieved. If we are looking for excuses to justify sin in our lives, we certainly won’t study the Bible with honest and open hearts.  Sometimes we might use the excuse that asks, “Where in the Bible does it say that I cannot . . .,”  but more often than not, the Bible spells out what we should not do and we just ignore it. We become like the carnal man who Paul talks about in Corinthians and reach the point where we lose all discernment. “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Why do we so often fall into lies of the devil or his disciples? Because truth carries with it responsibility.  Truth demands that we make transformations in our lives, and maybe even give up some of our evil desires.  Too often, we “can’t handle the truth.”  So we peruse the Word but don’t pursue its truths.  We read it and are left without the Word of God imprinted on our hearts. We are left defenseless in a world that is overrun with false messages. We are left to try to figure it all out on our own, and unfortunately we will not be able to.

In 1212 a French shepherd boy by the name of Steven claimed that Jesus had appeared to him disguised as a pilgrim. Supposedly  Jesus had instructed him to cross over the Mediterranean to take a letter concerning Christ to the Holy Lands. His story became widespread and he gained quite a following.  Soon a group of 30,000 children accompanied him on his journey, expecting to miraculously reach the Holy Lands. When they reached the edge of the water they expected the sea to be parted to let them pass, but it did not happen. The misguided boy and his many followers were distraught.  But while stranded by the sea, they met two men who claimed to be so touched by the story that they offered to transport the children for free across the mediterranean.  The children boarded seven ships triumphantly, believing that God had answered their prayers, but instead of heading for the Holy Lands, the course was set for North Africa.  When they arrived, they were sold into slavery in the Muslim marketplace.  Few returned to France, none made it to the Holy Lands.

There are hosts of wolves prowling around to take advantage of our naiveté if we do not accept the Word and love the Word.  If we know the Word, we will recognize the wolves, if we don’t know the Word, they will recognize us. False preachers can be motivational and false teachers can sound logical, but only the truth can set us free.  These type of men say they can set us free, but only for a fee.

Matthew warns us, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.   Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.”  (Matthew 7:13-16a)  We will not recognize the narrow gate or ravenous wolves if we don’t know the Word.  Like the young boys in the story above, there will always be those who will prey on our ignorance.  The cults are populated by well-intentioned but deceived followers whose ignorance of the Word led them to the broader gate.  Stay alert. Stay armed. Stay safe. Stay in the Word.