“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23
“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart and how to program your heart for success.
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Rudeness. Ruthlessness. Rebellion. We are witnessing all three in our culture today in proportions that were unimaginable less than a decade ago. Why is this happening, and what is the real cause?
In the second Book of Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul gives us the reason for the unbridled lawlessness we are now seeing all around us:
“For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” -2 Thessalonians 2: 7-12 NLT.
Notice this part of the verse: “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works.” This statement tells us that lawlessness is directly related to Satan.
Lawlessness is the result of rebellion. Satan fell from his position as Chief Worshipper in Heaven because he rebelled against God. All lawlessness proceeds from Satan and is instigated by him. In a land that has turned its back on God, it is no wonder that lawlessness is increasing. If lawlessness is the fruit of rebellion, then rebellion in our country is increasing because lawlessness is increasing.
“A culture that rejects Truth is doomed to destruction.” – Dr. MaryAnn Diorio
Paul notes that people become lawless when they refuse to love the truth and to be saved by it (v. 10b). Our culture has rejected truth and is now suffering the consequences of doing so. In my 48 years of walking with Jesus, I have learned these four things about Truth:
Jesus said this about Himself: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”(John 14: 6). To accept Jesus is to accept Truth.
Now, it’s YOUR turn: Please share your questions and insights in the Comments box below. Thank you!
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If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:
“Convergence: Clear Sign of the End Times”
“The Rise of Wicca, Witches, and Warlocks”
“Don’t Let Satan Play Your Pipes!”
“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”
Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right.
For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:
A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life
Winning with the Word Podcast Series
Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers
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