How To Go From Delusion To Discernment (Pt. 2)

How does 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 apply to the process of moving from delusion to discernment?

Well, before we answer that question, let’s take a look at what 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 says:

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

(2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

God Is Doing What?

What does it mean that “God” sends a “strong delusion” in verse 12?

Doesn’t the Bible clearly say that God can NEVER lie and that He is a God of truth?

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

(Numbers 23:19)

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

(Deuteronomy 32:4)

Well, the Bible commentary Barnes’ Notes On The Bible, helps give a sense of clearer understanding over this apparent dichotomy.

“This does not affirm that God wished them to believe a lie; nor that He would not have preferred that they should believe the truth; nor that He exerted any direct agency to cause them to believe a lie. It means merely that He left them, because they did not love the truth, to believe what was false, and what would end in their destruction.”

-Barnes’ Notes On The Bible, emphasis added

This makes me think of the ERV translation of Romans 1:24–

People wanted only to do evil. So God left them and let them go their sinful way. And so they became completely immoral and used their bodies in shameful ways with each other.

(Romans 1:24 ERV, emphasis added)

So, in other words, it’s really not God HIMSELF causing these people to be deceived into lies.

Rather, it’s Him simply stepping back and allowing these people to indulge in the lies and sins that they LOVE and WANT because they’ve STUBBORNLY rejected His truth and righteousness.

God is a gentleman. He will only give you His truth if you truly HUNGER FOR it and WILLINGLY OPEN your heart to it.

 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

(Matthew 5:6)

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

(Revelation 3:20)

So, how then does all this connect and apply to the second essential step to gaining Biblical discernment?

Do You Love Enough?

Verse 10 makes the answer to the above question clear:

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

(2 Thessalonians 2:10, emphasis added)

As we studied in part 1 of this series, we must first surrender and exchange our deceitful hearts for new hearts that are softened toward truth.

But it doesn’t just stop at solely surrendering our old hearts.

We must also surrender our old desires and loves for what is sinfully deceptive, and exchange them for a love for truth!

Especially the kind of love for truth that is willing enough to search for it and to discern it!

A Prayer

Would you, dear reader, like to surrender your old love for “the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13) in exchange for God’s new, softened love for “whatsoever things are true” (Philippians 4:8)?

If so, then just pray:

Stay tuned for next week’s blog post, where we’ll dig into the third, final, and MOST IMPORTANT step to go from delusion to discernment!

Until then, may the words of Philippians 1:9 be our prayer this week:

And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment,

(Philippians 1:9 CSB)

Amen! Maranatha!