“The Lord is not slow in keeping
His promise, as some understand slowness.
He is patient with you, not wanting
anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance.” 2Pet. 3:9
God needs His kids to understand this
truth: We are the aroma of Christ among those who
are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one group 1) we are the
smell of death and to the other group, 2) the fragrance of life. (2 Cor. 15-16)
Living for Jesus will produce two “aromas”
for recipient noses: fragrant and pleasing OR pungent and rotting. Have you
noticed?
2
Thess. 2:10-11 tells us that one day, people will perish because they will
refuse to love the Truth and so be saved. (To these folks, Christ’s aroma will
be pungent and rotting.) And for this reason, God will send them a powerful
delusion so that they will believe the lie.
Does
this sound familiar? ~This scenario has occurred a number of times in the past and
will occur again. Rom. 1:25-28 tells us, “They exchanged the Truth for the
lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator… Since
they didn’t think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them
over to a depraved mind to do what
ought not be done.” (Interesting study: examine what God means by “depraved
mind”.)
One
day, the deception will turn into a “full-blown” falsehood as men fully
embrace the lie and will then attempt to make living for Almighty God
illegal (dead).
Recall these forewarnings in Scripture:
The
Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow
deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through
hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
1Tim. 4:1-2
For
the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to
suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers
to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away
from the truth. Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate
each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because
of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who
stands firm to the end will be saved.
2
Tim. 4:3-4; Matt. 24: 10-13
If true
believers look at it through temporal lenses, this news can appear to be a real
downer. But if we “see” through God’s eternal filter, this news is rather
exciting in light of His eminent return.
Until then, God beseeches us to LOVE
others, live a holy life, teach the Word, to be constantly prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we
have; to correct, rebuke and encourage—with
great patience and careful instruction… And if we should
suffer for what is right, we are blessed and need not fear.
(1Jn. 4:11-12; 1Thess. 4:7; 2Tim.
4:2; 1Pet. 3:13-17)
Living out loud for Him,
Shaun and Betsy
