Humanity Has Been Given A Choice: Love Wickedness Or Truth

"They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved....All will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2:10b, 12, NIV)

It seems as though we have a choice here: Love and delight in truth, or love and delight in wickedness.

Today's prayer item from Brother Andrew's Open Doors Newsletter was for The Maldives.  The latest reports reveal that the nation has cracked "down on preaching unofficial Islam, and non-Islamic faiths," and even passing legislation banning church buildings (ICC).  Despite this and other persecution of Christians, many young people are curious about Christianity and are wanting more information about Jesus.  The prayer request asked that we pray for these "truth seekers."  According to our text, all who, "love the truth, " and, "have...believed the truth," will, "be saved."  The rest of the "God-Breathed" Scriptures affirm this; therefore, I prayed today for the "truth seekers" in The Maldives-- and everywhere.

You and I today are called to, "love the truth."  If we do, the Words of Jesus will be fulfilled in us, "the Truth," not just any "truth," but the Truth Who is Jesus Christ, "will set you free."  Refusal to love and believe, "the truth," however, will bring nothing but what verse 11 declares, "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."  This is very disturbing, even frightening: "God sends... delusion...."  It is a judgment "sending."  He offers us truth, but, "....God sends... a powerful delusion," when men, "have delighted in wickedness,"  To any who have found another delight, however, to those who will, "love the truth," Jesus Christ, Father "sends" salvation.  

When I read 2 Thessalonians 2 the other day and came to the great benediction at the end of the chapter, I thought of you.  It is a benediction to all "truth seekers" everywhere.  "May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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* Please pray with us for the planning of the Fall Mission.

* I will be preaching this coming Sunday, July 29, in The Good Shepherd Church

* Unreached People Group: www.apfunreachedpeoples.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2