I love the Bible. I love how much it reveals to our hearts, and how it guides us in all seasons. I love how alive the Word of God is and how it bolsters our faith. I love the way it teaches us. I love the peace that reading God’s Word brings. Peace that surpasses understanding. The peace of revelation, knowing, and understanding. When I read the Bible, I find myself lost in the mystery of it all. I enjoy the mystery. I delight in not having to figure everything out. I love that when God wants me to know something, He will show me…otherwise, as a simple person, I sit soaking it all in and wondering…pondering.
God is mysterious to me. I love to search Him out.
This morning, while reading scripture I came across this portion in 2 Thessalonians 2…
Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet Him. Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly form us. Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed- the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming. This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So, God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Lots of people talk about where we are, as far as end times are concerned. I prefer to not discuss it much, rather to read God’s Word and let Him inform me. As He says, He will teach me all I need to know. So, if He’s not showing me, then I must not need to know it yet.
The above verses though, show us several things to be on the lookout for…the anti-Christ. We can’t forget that the spirit of the anti-Christ is already moving on the earth…but there will also be this man of lawlessness that will be revealed. He will remain secret until…just like the above scripture says.
I hope that today’s scripture reading will bring you a feeling of hope because you are now more aware. Awareness can help take fear of the future away. Knowing what to expect on a certain level can help remind you that God is in it all.
The above scripture gives you things to be looking out for…things we know are markers of the end.
Reading it reminded me that there is still a lot that must happen before the final countdown, and I bring this up to remind you that we need to still be living life to the full. Sowing and reaping. Building and establishing. Advancing the Kingdom of God. Learning and dreaming.
This is our hour. Don’t pack it up and just sit waiting. Conquer and advance until…
365 Days in the Presence 