Big Little Lies

The coming of the lawless one, is based on Satan's working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders, and with every unrighteous deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of truth in order to be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, so that all will be condemned -- those who did not believe the truth but enjoyed unrighteousness. 

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Unrighteousness in scripture refers to unbelief, a lack of faith- refusing to believe God. We often think we do not have a say so in our faith, but we do. Faith is part choice, part gift and it requires the participation of both sides of the relationship- you and God. Without both party's active and ongoing participation, it's null and void. Faith is a journey, a constant crossroads of choosing to believe God or someone/something else. We don't get to believe God one and done; we have to practice believing Him all throughout life. 

The mindsets we hold and and the stuff we're being taught provide continuous opportunities for us to practice faith because God's holiness will inevitably challenge the ways and beliefs that are contradictory for those who want to be close to Him. Darkness cannot hide in His light. 

We don't do so well with this as a church. We tend to be hung up on lies and many of our lives are reflective of the lies we cling to. Maybe it's because the lies enable us to stay the way we are, whereas the truth presents strong conviction in our hearts to change. And change is hard.

It's a serious thing, to hold onto lies, and this scripture reminds us of that. Whether it is the belief you aren't loved, the idea that your sins aren't as bad as someone else's or lies that keep you from loving others, lies have serious consequences- even for Christians. It reveals the lack of substance to our faith and, in the end, when everything is tested, the lies will not pass. They will reveal what we really put our faith in. 

Verse 12 offers a pretty strong heed to us: Watch that you don't get comfortable in unbelief to ANY extent. One little lump of unbelief turns into a mound of unrighteousness. That heed is not just for non-Christians. It's for all of us, in every moment of life.