He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
The text above paints the picture clearly: Refuse salvation through faith in Christ and in the end (when Christ returns) God will hand us over to be condemned forever. This is absolutely chilling and arguably very difficult for us to grasp. In our world today, it seems like there is always some form of “do-over” that allows us to start over, get things right, and achieve some level of success in the end. But the decision that is made when the Savior returns is completely final…we are either gathered up with Christ, destined for heaven, or we are cast aside, dumped into the devil’s domain…and both are forever, eternal, infinite. Just imagine for a minute what it will be like: Christ returns and the world as we know it is coming to an end…people are being separated to the right and left and we think we are set for the group with Christ. But when it comes our turn, we are placed in the other group…God has washed his hands of us…and there is no do-over, no way for us to make amends or change our destiny. We are doomed. It’s almost impossible to really capture what hell will be like…what eternal punishment will feel like as there is nothing in our lives today that is eternal…everything has a beginning and an end. Yet there are multiple references in God’s Word that indicate the punishment will not end. Dwelling on this verse is not meant to bring a cloud of despair into our day, but rather to highlight the incredible importance in truly knowing Christ. If we are not solid in our faith today, may we take the time to form a concrete bond with Christ. And if we know of friends and family in our lives that are not solid in Christ, may we take the time to share the Gospel with them, referencing the verse above, and leading them to genuine faith in Christ. So that in the end, there will be no doubt where we will all land. To God be the glory!
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