Second Thessalonians 2:10b-12 says, "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." Unbelievers will be deceived by the Antichrist and perish not because they did not hear or understand the truth, but because they did not believe and love the truth. They preferred the pleasure of unrighteousness instead. They reject Christ and the gospel. They reject God. Therefore, God will send a "strong delusion" (v. 11a) and allow them to "believe the lie" (v. 11b). They perish because of unbelief. God uses Satan and Antichrist as instruments of His judgment against unbelievers.
The message is clear. Put in a positive manner, believe the truth of God, and you will not be deceived. Believe the truth of God, and you will not perish. Rather, God will give you rest in Him as He promised.
The American Banking Association once sponsored a two-week training program to help tellers detect counterfeit bills. The program was unique—never during the two-week training did the tellers even look at a counterfeit bill, nor did they listen to any lectures concerning the characteristics of counterfeit bills… all they did for two weeks was handle authentic currency, hour after hour and day after day, until they were so familiar with the true that they could not possibly be fooled by the false (Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll's Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes, [Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville, 1998], 131).
We need to study the Word of God and get to know it thoroughly. We need to remember God's Word and apply it in our lives until we become so familiar with His Word that we cannot possibly be fooled by anything less than God's real truth.
Stand on the Word of God, and you will not be deceived. Stand on the Word of God, and you will receive His blessings. Amen.
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