Recently, while attending a Bible study, second Thessalonians 2:11 was brought up and it created a spirited exchange of ideas. Some might call it argument, but I think of it as spirited. I like spirited exchanges, because those who engage, whether right or wrong, really care about what God is trying to convey to us.
(2 Th 2:11 NIV) For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie
One person, believing they know God pretty well said God would not do such a thing, but Scripture says He will. That perception of God seems to be the common one that one finds in church. It is said that God loves everyone, but the truth, as I understand it, is God loves those that love Him. Now, if someone that does not love God would come to their senses and begin to love the truth, then God would love them and save them, as a result of His love.
Anyway, the discussion caused me to think about delusions and illusions. Both are words for an erroneous concept or belief, but a delusion is a false belief strongly held in spite of invalidating evidence.
(2 Th 2:9-12 NIV) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that 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.
I thought to myself, “there are many that are perishing now, so is the delusion in the world now?” Then God began to answer me and show me, not just one delusion, but many. Please, don’t think that I mean God spoke to me audibly. God speaks to me the same way He speaks to all that have been baptized into Christ: through our thoughts.
He pointed out that money is a delusion. The world believes money is the answer for everything and of course it is not. Almost everyone, even many believers, think money will make one happy and if they had a lot, they could change the world, but even believing one can change the world is a delusion. Is a church that believes they need money, to further the cause, attempting to serve both money and God?
Insurance is a delusion, it is a business and a business must serve money first. If an insurance company can find a reason not to pay a claim it is good business to do so. Those who put their trust in insurance trust a business that looks for ways not to pay!
Democracy is a delusion. No one, except God, is qualified to lead, because no one, except God, knows the future. A decision that is made without knowing the future is akin to throwing dice, even if that decision came from the most intelligent person in the world.
At this time we have a government that is arguing over money. Arguing over a delusion! A politician must lie in order to be elected. The politician that would say “I can only try to govern rightly” would never be elected. They must say that they will do something, but no one can “guarantee” they can do anything. If you put your trust in a politician, you are trusting someone that lied to get the job. Great start to serving the people, isn’t it?
Even the medical profession is a delusion! It doesn’t matter how long we live on this earth. The bottom line is that we are all going to leave: no matter what. It is fashionable to say “Save a life”, but it is not a true statement: “prolong a live” might be true, but even then I have seen life prolonged when it was useless to do so.
I reached the conclusion that only God is not an illusion. Everyone is free to put their trust in anything, and they do, but as for me, as best that I can, I will trust only God.
I have to laugh I do that more and more as I understand more: you have just read a post from an illusion! Don’t put your trust in children (Mathew 11:25) and I am becoming more and more like a child (Mathew 18:3).
Do not put your trust in this child or what he says. Only trust in God.
Bible study by a student 
Love your commentary and your unwillingness to just swallow anything someone feeds you.
God did and still will send strong dilusion if He sees that it is necessary. Look at the tower of babel. If that is not strong dilusion I don’t know what is. God is a GOOD God. He is a JUST God, and just is not the same as fair.
Our modern culture is so filled with a bless me no fault religion and filled with Christians that ONLY want to hear the “positive stuff” that they really do not understand the character of God.
good post.
truth pressure
[…] […]
Truth Pressure,
Thanks for the comment. I certainly agree with you.
You hit the nail on the head, when you say most Christians only want to hear the “positive stuff”. It is really too bad as one cannot grasp just how great the “positive stuff” is without understanding how bad the “negative stuff” is.
This entire world system is a delusion, the earth herself an illusion of dirt held together by His will. We are here to get refined and return home.
Cassandra,
All kidding aside, you are absolutely correct. Einstein’s formula, E=MC2 when flipped, which is perfectly legal, is MC2=E. In other words, all mass is only energy. Energy is only the ability to do work on mass. Truly, the universe and everything in it is basically made of nothing!
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Fire is only energy and when He stops holding everything together, everything will return to nothing.
Fetishi, an Egyptian cow head that is garnished with pickled green radish,which is left to soak in vinegar for two months
Zuni fetishes, small carvings from various stones, made by the Zuni Indians
Imiut fetish, in ancient Egypt a stuffed, headless animal skin tied by the tail to a pole
Fetish priest, in countries of West Africa, a person who serves as a mediator between the spirit and the living.are this examples of illusions?
roy,
Well actually they would be better described as idols and the priests as false priests.