Good morning, DearHeart.
Growing up in a small southern baptist church (back when it was expected to hear words like hell, and damnation, rapture, end times, and satan, from the pulpit), meant that the thought of eternity was placed at the forefront of our awareness. Somehow, life happened and those thoughts got dimmed by the urgency of the daily tasks. But, now, I see the struggles of these days, the struggles of my friends and my loves – and I see the active work of satan chomping into them and causing chaos.
What do people do who don’t know Christ? Who don’t have hope? Who don’t have the perspective to know that the enemy works through people to destroy others? What do people do when they don’t understand the hits that we take while walking these earth-roads are only temporary?
What do people do who don’t know Christ? And, that eternity is coming?
All around, we see the work of the evil one being unleashed upon the world during these end times. Some, actually many, will be deceived by satan and his activities because they have refused to love and accept God’s truth.
Our God is not willing for any to perish (2 Peter 3:9) which is why the Holy Spirit works on EVERY heart, pursuing each one. He is chasing them down like a parent going after a toddler heading into danger.
As I read these scripture this morning, my heart was stirred to pray for the softening of hearts. Let those around us see Jesus in us and be moved to seek Him and His truth.
“Brothers and sisters, we have something to say about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We want to talk to you about that time when we will meet together with Him. Don’t let yourselves be easily upset or worried if you hear that the day of the Lord has already come. Someone might say that this idea came from us—in something the Spirit told us, or in something we said, or in a letter we wrote. Don’t be fooled by anything they might say. That day of the Lord will not come until the turning away from God happens. And that day will not come until the Man of Evil appears, the one who belongs to hell. He will stand against and put himself above everything that people worship or think is worthy of worship. He will even go into God’s Temple and sit there, claiming that he is God. I told you before that all these things would happen. Remember? And you know what is stopping that Man of Evil now. He is being stopped now so that he will appear at the right time. The secret power of evil is already working in the world now. But there is One who is stopping that secret power of evil. And He will continue to stop it until he is taken out of the way. Then that Man of Evil will appear. But the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath that comes from His mouth. The Lord will come in a way that everyone will see, and that will be the end of the Man of Evil.” 2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:1-8‬ ‭ERV‬‬
Wake up.
Be moved to pray.
Soften hearts, Lord.
Let them be moved.
Go.