FUN IN THE SHORT-RUN

Paul writes to the Thessalonians concerning ‘last days’ and says something that should serve as a warning to all of us. Paul says, because certain people did not believe the truth, “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Th. 2:11-12). What is noticeable here is that Paul asserts that the opposite of believing the truth is taking pleasure in wickedness. In John, Jesus is heard to say, “everyone who does wicked things hates the light.” (Jn 3:19)

The Bible is a book that reveals truth to us without sugar-coating or fantasy-language….it is reality. Sin is pleasurable for a moment and fun in the short run. The Bible says that Moses chose to obey God rather than enjoying “the passing pleasures of sin” (Heb 11:25). The Bible also says “There’s a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way of death.” (Pr 14:11) There is a deadly hook in the bait of sin.

But what, I believe, should concern us as well is that for those who revel in the passing pleasure of sin God can send a deluding influence by allowing such a one to believe lies and become insensitive to the truth. The Bible also calls this ‘callousness.’ Jesus says of some sinful humans, “this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are full of hearing, their eyes they have closed.” (Mt 13:15) Love the truth. Believe the truth. Resist your baser urges to wallow in pleasure. It is the way to clearly discern truth from error….the way to avoid living a deluded existence.