This week we move to Second Thessalonians, chapter two.  So much of these two short letters is devoted to the coming of the end and the things that will occur then.  One of these events is often called the great apostasy.  “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first,…” 2 Thessalonians 2:3.  This falling away means the leaving behind of the things that are at the core of Christianity and moving to a different position; it is an abandoning of what has been revealed by God in His word for something else.

We expect this to happen and even may be seeing it happening now.  Mainline denominations are doubting the inerrancy of God’s word.  Churches are changing position on marriage and sexual behavior.  Moving away from them to man’s thinking-of-the-day on these subjects.  There is even something called “The Clergy Project” where clergy current and former can meet together.  What is wrong with that you might ask?  They are leaders who are partial to atheism and do not believe what their churches do!

The point of this in terms of end-times thinking is providing an avenue for various religions to draw together and overlook their differences.  This will usher in the possibility of a one-world religion.

But, before we arrive there, consider the idea of apostasy now, in your own life.  One of the great challenges of our day is godly living.  There are many pressures from the world to conform to their way of thinking.  The aforementioned issues of sexuality and the literal interpretation of the word are just the start.  The issue of marriage is hotly contested today.  The world wants us to walk away from God’s plan and adopt theirs.  Will you, personally?

Will you look at the bible and turn the other way?  Be willing to compromise just to get along?  These are the great apostasies that we as individuals face.

How does one prevent these personal apostasies?  Hold close to the word and the Lord.  That seems such a trite answer!  But it is simple.  It has to be.  We don’t do difficult very well.

It is the habitual turning to Him not away that prevents this.  In His word each day, before Him in prayer, believing that the word is what it claims to be and then acting upon it.  It is based on the simple fact that this word is alive and accurate and proven over and over again. We have the Spirit of God in us. Empowered for all God would call us to, even the rejection of the world.

He has done so much for us.  Provided for every spiritual need.  Loved us with an everlasting love.  Let us be those who will not walk away, but be willing to always walk His way in the power of the Spirit!