Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang
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Lent Devotion

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"At the Foot of the Cross" is an annual Lenten devotion written by clergy and lay leaders in the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia. This devotion has been faithfully produced since 1992 and this year's theme is on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Join us as we journey together towards the foot of the cross.

 
 

24 March - The Lawless One

 

“Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 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 2:5-12 (ESV)

 

How should Christians feel when faced with increasing evil and persecution? Are we overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty? Or are we cognisant of its ultimate purpose in the anticipated coming of the Lord? In today’s passage, Paul commends the Thessalonian believers for their continual growth in faith and love despite experiencing persecution. He encourages them to be assured of the righteous judgment of God on those who afflict the Lord’s church and reject the Gospel message. This judgment will coincide with the coming of the Lord Jesus. However, Paul also sought to guide those who were misinformed of the timing and manner of the Lord’s coming by reminding them of what must first take place. The overarching message is clear: The revelation of the lawless one is not only an event prior to the second coming of Jesus, its purpose is to expose the utter depravity of both Satan and those who are perishing in anticipation of their deserved condemnation and eternal destruction. If we, as the persecuted church have been overwhelmed by increasing maliciousness, we would do well to be reminded of three important implications from this passage:

• The world is brought about to express its utter lawlessness and godlessness thereby exposing both the malicious scheming of Satan and the total depravity of humankind (vv. 8a,9-10).

• The second coming of the Lord Jesus will bring about obliteration of such lawlessness and evil, i.e., the righteous judgment of God (v.8b)

• God sends a strong delusion to those who are perishing as they embrace the falsehood of Satan and refuse the truth, thereby confirming the path of their condemned state (vv.10-12).

Easier said than done, but in the face of increasing evil and lawlessness, persecuted disciples of the Lord Jesus all over the world would do well to move beyond desperate and wishful hope for deliverance towards a Word-informed, Spirit-enabled posture of strength and conviction that God will not only ensure salvation of his Church in the new heavens and the earth, he will do so by first rooting out and obliterating any evil that cannot stand in his presence. Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us: (1) Persevere with the conviction that comes in the guarantee of God’s unchanging Word. (2) Experience the joy of such hope that will be fully realised in the Lord’s coming by his Holy Spirit. (3) Commit wholeheartedly to the way of righteousness in the Lord.

PONDER

In difficult times, especially when suffering as a Christian, have you prayed merely in wishful hope or with inspired conviction that God will make good on his word to completely triumph over evil and deliver his saints in glory?

PROMISE

Commit to a life of discipleship that is informed by all of God’s Word as opposed to “blind faith.”

PRAYER

Righteous Father, even through the valley of the shadow of death, you are not only with me to comfort and deliver me, but also to destroy darkness, the unrighteous and lawless works of Satan. Help me to see your salvation as not just a personal deliverance from sin but a cosmic one whereby evil is obliterated everywhere, in your presence. In the Lord Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Article by the Reverend Paul Lau, a locally ordained Priest based at All Saints’ Church, Cheras. His passion in ministry includes expository preaching and the expression of the Gospel message through artistic means.

HTBB