2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
On
August 10, 1985, my wife, daughter and I, with the help of family and friends,
packed up all of our earthly possessions and moved to Columbus, Ohio. As I consider
these past 30 years, there are many fond memories. It was a life changing move
for all of us, and looking back, I can see how God has faithfully used people
and circumstances in our lives.
The
move was precipitated by my work. The couple who was our host when we first came
for our interview and later to find a place to live, became great friends, and were
probably one of the main reasons we moved to Columbus. God certainly used them
as well as many others that we met over the years.
In
September of 1985, our daughter started kindergarten. My wife helped in the
classroom every day. The teacher saw something in her and encouraged her to
return to school. God used that teacher to motivate my wife to do just that. As
a result, she taught in inner city Columbus for 23 years.
Our
daughter graduated from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio
University. During one summer break, she worked at Damon’s Grill where she met
her husband to be. Who knows how different her life would have been had we not
made this move. God has been faithfully at work in each of our lives.
Looking
back gives us twenty-twenty vision. We can see how God has been working when in
the middle of life, sometimes we can’t. Hindsight allows us to recognize God’s
faithfulness.
That’s
what Paul was writing about to the Thessalonians. Keep in mind that the Thessalonian
church was under extreme persecution at the time. Compounding this were lies
that were being told that the rapture had already taken place. And guess what?
The Thessalonians didn’t make the cut!
Paul
explained first that it was a lie, and second that certain things had to take
place before the Second Coming could happen. He wrote about the rebellion and
the man of lawlessness. He pointed out that the lawless one was under the
control of Jesus. The bottom line for Paul was that, no matter what, God was in
control; God was always with them; and God was always faithful.
Thirty
years have flown by for us. During those years there have been some very difficult
and painful times. Deaths, loss of job, a miscarriage, regretful decisions;
things that still hurt even to think about today. But we know that through it
all, God has been in control, always with us and always faithful. God is always
at work in your life. Just take a look back to see how and with whom.
“But the Lord is faithful,
and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians
3:3
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/2Thess.2.1-2Thess.2.12
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