A Call To The Remnant

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 

Deception is never very far away. In all ages, unscrupulous men, men who typically do not work by their own hand but rather are “supported,” by others, have spread falsehoods and deceptions, selling themselves as ones who “know.” Paul addresses this very thing. Certain men had told them Thessalonians that Christ had already come back, that somehow they had “missed the boat,” so to speak. Paul gently reminds them of what he actually taught them. He reminds them that first there must be a great falling away from the faith. He reminds them that “He who now restrains,” will do so until He is taken out of the way. The lawless one must be revealed. There will be lying signs and wonders that will fool those who are not saved. This strong delusion will be sent by God Himself but it will not affect those who have “received the love of the truth.” The lawless one will be consumed by the breath of His mouth and the brightness of His coming, His second coming. Brothers and sisters, do not be deceived by preterists, so called or partial preterists and others who tell you that Jesus already came back, that all of this was fulfilled in 70ad. It is amazing to me that the same men, of the same character, who lied to the Thessalonians are still with us today and still deceiving foolish people who have not “received the love of the truth.”

It is one thing to hear the truth. It is even another thing to accept and agree with the truth, it is entirely another thing altogether to love the truth, to such an extent that one would suffer the loss of all things for it. Jesus is the truth. To be a lover of Jesus is to be a lover of the truth. It is like a mighty shield wall that stands immovable against all lies and lying signs and wonders. Receiving the love of the truth is to be marked eternally. It is to have rivers of molten lava flowing through our veins. It burns at the heart of who we are.It burned in the heart of every single martyr down through the ages, and there were millions of them, who could not and would not deny the truth that was revealed to them.  Those who receive the love of the truth are dismantled piece by piece and rebuilt in the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are strong in the Lord and the power of His might. They speak in a way that is beyond their capacity for they speak by the power of the Holy Spirit who leads them and guides them into all truth. Paul says, in the starkest terms, that term being “we command you,” (he rarely commanded anything) “withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly,” according to the things Paul has just said. Have you received the love of the truth?