We shouldn’t be amazed at the kind of things we see and hear from the unsaved world.
It’s still steeped in sin. How can it do otherwise? Why are we surprised when sinners sin?
In fact, much of the unsaved world is given over to delusion. It can’t see or understand the things of the kingdom of God. That is why it is called lost.
And all are without excuse, because God has revealed Himself in the very earth, sky and stars we view and touch and hear every day of our lives on this planet.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:18-23
Unable to see the creation for what it is and therefore acknowledge the Creator, they formed their own gods out of images, earthly material, and vain philosophy and in so doing rejected the very God of the creation. Foolishly, they took nature and turned it into their false god.
They worship the creation rather than the Creator because they refused to see what God has shown them in nature, including worship of themselves, glorifying their own bodies over the invisible, ever-present God of the universe.
So He gave them over to three things; uncleanness, vile passions and debased minds, all examples of corruption that is in the world through sin.
They refused to acknowledge God so He let them continue in their delusion. This delusion is a ‘mental straying’, ‘an error or wrong opinion relative to morals or religion’, or ‘that which leads into error, deceit, or fraud’ (Strongs).
The golden calf of delusion
This was best illustrated when Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, who, on descending the mount, saw that Israel in his absence had made a golden calf to worship and were committing all kinds lewd acts of worship of their idol (Exo 32:1).
He had to cover his face in their presence because the glory of God was causing his face to shine. His very face reflecting God’s glory pronounced judgment on their wanton act of idolatry.
Here then is a picture of the unsaved world all throughout the ages even into this generation, worshiping idols of their own formation whilst rejecting the very God of all creation.
That is why He has given them over to their delusion. In fact He has sent them strong delusion to seal it.
That phrase ‘given them over’ is fascinating. He’s let them get on with their own folly. They have judged themselves to be adjoined to it and He’s let them run with their self-assessment.
In fact, the reality is that their real worship is of the very delusion they have allowed to enter their lives. They have succumbed to the lawlessness that is a sign of the presence of Satan in their lives, children of disobedience, even if they do not know it, or , in some instances, will even deny it. Such is the delusion.
See what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
God will send them strong delusion. They’ll believe the lie. They condemn themselves by their unbelief (Jn 3:18).
A lawless one will be set up by Satan and, at the end of the age, exposed, and his work will be after his god Satan who will even produce lying signs and wonders to help lead astray those who reject God in the latter days.
This refers to lawlessness against God’s will, not against civil law. In fact, only some extracts of civil law reflect this spiritual lawlessness but are discerned through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Theoe people, who are sent strong delusion, who are given over to their delusion, are already perishing. They are set to perish forever, but already deep into that process by their own volition.
That delusion is the poison that is destroying them forever.
Only those who are saved and Spirit-filled will see beyond those delusions, but we will have to remain vigilant and constant in His Word and led by the Spirit. We have to be grounded and settled in truth.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Collisions 1:21-23
Two kinds of people in the earth, then. Saved and unsaved. Jesus compared the people of the earth at His coming as wheat and tares. The tares look like wheat but are devoid of the right substance and filled with the wrong fruit. But they are growing up side by side.
The wheat will be gathered up with the tares, but separated on God’s ‘threshing floor’, the place of judgment at the end of time (Mat 13:24-30). That day is yet to come.
Escape route
OK, so how can we escape the delusion?
There is an escape route, but it must take place in a person’s lifetime. The only way out is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and not only through faith. A believing person must make Jesus Lord of their life and be willing to follow Him forever.
To do this they must hear the gospel preached because the Word of the gospel is the seed that is sown that produces faith and new life in the believer.
Faith of this standard comes by the heart and through the mouth. We believe with our heart and confession is made with our lips (Rom 10:10). That confession is that we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and make Him the Lord and Owner of our lives forever (Rom 10:8).
That is the only way out of the strong delusion.
The blood of the cross of Jesus has made this possible. He paid the price of our sin. He made the way clear for all people to yield their lives to Him.
There is no other name under heaven by which a person can be saved (Acts 4:12).
There is no religion, there is no philosophy, there is no ceremonial practice under the sun by which a person can be saved but by God’s grace and through faith in Him. It is the only way (Jn 14:6).
If you’re not sure it is a sign that you remain either in or on the fringes of this worldly delusion. You can receive Jesus as Lord by asking Him into your life today. Don’t wait. Today is the day.
