“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10 ESV
Reflection: do you love and seek the truth, even when it is difficult to hear?
The introduction of digital photography opened up a whole new world of creative possibilities for photographers. New tools like digital editing makes it possible to completely change the original image, in almost every dimension you can imagine. Not only color, lighting and contrast, but you can actually add, change, and even remove content in the picture. If you don’t like what you look like on a picture (too fat, too many wrinkles, dark circles under the eyes, thinning hair, etc), well, just change it. And, this thought goes very deep, of course, as we start then thinking about what is the purpose of the picture is. To represent the truth that the image reveals as it was taken, or to represent some alternate reality, a creative improvement, an illusion, of what we want the observer to see.
The point is rhetorical, of course, as so much of this world is about the external “image”. About looking “good” to the world, to the observers we want to impress. Of our success at work, in our families, and homes, etc. The things we own and what we do. Think for a moment about “selfies” and self promotion on social media tools like Facebook, Instagram and even professional networks like LinkedIn. They are all about presenting an “polished image” of self, of success. And this idea of image is also a problem within the church, in the one place where people should be able to be themselves. But even there, many come to impress an image of self to the others. In a way, we have become more and more distant from each other, hiding behind some false image, afraid of what others might think of us.
And this goes even deeper as we read in the focus verses today. We see that there are actually some who “refused to love the truth” as Paul described in his letter. We remember a similar sentiment from John’s writings of Jesus coming that “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13 ESV. Receiving Christ, believing in Him, is receiving and loving the truth. It is a choice we all face. So why do some receive while others refuse the truth?
Because the truth about ourselves is hard to see, hear and accept.
It is looking honestly at that “photo” of ourselves, a selfie, and realizing that it is not very pretty at all. It is acknowledging how much each of us are in need of the Savior. Some choose to ignore that, and instead try to do some photo corrections and present that to the world, even to God. Try to photo edit the imperfections. Some just embrace the imperfections, which is what the world teaches. Paul calls that “refusing the truth”. It is the love of self, which really is idol worship. The truth is necessary to accept so that we can be saved. Paul wrote to Timothy, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV
But God will let us have our way, if we refuse the truth. Paul writes “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ESV.
To love the truth is to love everything about Jesus Christ. We can come to Him, just as we are, no photo corrections needed. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV. “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV
