Until That Day

DEVOTION
2 THESSALONIANS
UNTIL THAT DAY
2 Thess 2:5-8
5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
NIV
There is no way this man of lawlessness can be here because the Holy Spirit is here and working in this world today. Jesus said that he must go in order he could send him. I do not think according to these words that whoever this man of lawlessness is, he cannot be out in the open until the Holy Spirit leaves. But what a horrible world this is going to be when that happens. Yes, evil is at work now, of that I have no doubt. Evil is all around lurking in every corner seeing who it might suck into its grasp. I have to be ever vigilant keeping a sharp eye out for this hideous monster. I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit and those gifts he has bestowed. To be able to discern that evil spirit is the key to being vigilant. Without it I am afraid I could not see it if it were in front of my face. True, Jesus is going to overthrow him and he will be destroyed, but for now I and all my friends still have to content with his secret power which is at work attempting to lure me and them into his fold. Now it is not that I am able to withstand every temptation which he hurls at me, especially those which are not hurled by ever so slyly slipped in. When those temptations are thrust fast and hard it is easier to see them coming and refuse to catch them. But those little slippery ones that just sneak up and crawl in slowly are a little more difficult to push back. I am not sure how that happens, but I know it does, and I have failed to resist, yet I have not refused the help of the Holy Spirit, nor have I turned my back on Jesus or the word of God. I want to do that which is good, but I don’t all the time, and I do not want to do that which is not good, but I do sometimes. I am convinced it is a war which will wage on until either Jesus comes for the church or I step into eternity before the whole church is taken. I am surely disappointed in myself in those times of failure, yet I am confident of my helper, the Holy Spirit to keep me until that day.