Do I really believe that what I believe about God to be really real?

This is the question that needs to be asked of ourselves daily and answered with a confident, assured, determined YES!  Only then can “the things of this world grow strangely dim in the Light of His glory and grace.”  In times like these, only this kind of faith and trust can withstand what evil will try to do to shake us up, distract us from Truth and redirect our thinking to self alone—which leads to death—forever. 

Living Forward thinking leads us to believe, without a doubt, that “Greater is HE (Jesus) that is in me than he (his opponent, Satan) that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) We stand firm on the foundation of Truth who is Jesus.  We have a tight grip on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith!  Jesus.  Only Jesus.

Keep all this foundational truth in mind when people cry out “the end is near”, “the antichrist has come”, “the world as we know it will come to an end in the next year”.  Fear of the unknown is a tactic used by evil to draw us to him.  Faith in God, the One and Only who knows, smothers the fire of fear and gives us peace right in the middle of the storms of life. He straightens our shoulders, corrects our walk and bring us right into His Holy Presence.   

God chose us to live forever.  Do we choose Him?  Completely, with nothing held back?  Paul says, read these next words carefully.  Let us do the same and be blessed by the assurance of our faith in our Savior, our Redeemer, Protector, Provider, Help in troubles and Lord of our lives forever!  And may we believe—really believe!

NOTE:  Apostasy—Getting people to denounce all that is Jesus.  Anarchist—one who will be used by Satan to claim he is God.  The anarchist will be a puppet of Satan—who tried this tactic the first time as an angel in heaven!  He was kicked out and banned forever because he wanted to be God and take his place.  It didn’t work then; it won’t work later.  He tries, but fails.  Every time.  Don’t fall for it!

THESSALONIANS—LIVING FORWARD

2 Thessalonians 2, The Message

The Anarchist

^1-3 Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don’t go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him. Don’t let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master’s arrival has come and gone. Don’t fall for any line like that.

^3-5 Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a partner in crime with Satan. He’ll defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he’ll then set himself up in God’s Temple as “God Almighty.” Don’t you remember me going over all this in detail when I was with you? Are your memories that short?

^6-8 You’ll also remember that I told you the Anarchist is being held back until just the right time. That doesn’t mean that the spirit of anarchy is not now at work. It is, secretly and underground. But the time will come when the Anarchist will no longer be held back, but will be let loose. But don’t worry. The Master Jesus will be right on his heels and blow him away. The Master appears and—puff!—the Anarchist is out of there.

^9-12 The Anarchist’s coming is all Satan’s work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. And since they’re so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it—gives them what they want. Since they refuse to trust truth, they’re banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.

^13-14 Meanwhile, we’ve got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God’s original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.

^15-17 So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

AGAIN, LET’S ASK—

Do I really believe that what I believe about God to be really real?  Then live it!

Lord,

I do believe and hold a firm grip on Your Hand who leads me through all the rhetoric and false teaching of this world.  Thank you for drawing back to you in faith when fear creeps in like a thief in an attempt to rob me of the joy and peace I have with You.  You in me.  Me in you.  Simply put, this is living forward in expectation of the day you will come and set all things right.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, YES and Amen!