◄ Mysteries of the Hour ►

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. 
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8

Since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:17-18

The mystery among the Gentiles, is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Colossians 1:27

Dire Warnings

So many passages to the Church from Christ’s apostles give serious and dire warnings.. forewarning of things to come, lest we be swept up into the error of the age – warnings that the mystery of lawlessness can damage the stability, of a Christian.

Volatile Society

We are well down the path of that volatile society, about which we are warned. We are living at a time when Christian stamina is increasingly being wearied. We are experiencing a season when the believer’s endurance is being taxed.

Increased Lawlessness

Are we to throw up our hands in horror as we see society tumble into the abyss? Are we to bemoan these evil days and sink deeper into a Slough of Despond? Are we to simply to sit back and sanctimoniously accept prophetic inevitable?  – for scripture tells us that the error of lawless men will wax greater in end times.

Sufficient Grace

I think not – important though it is to recognise the signs of the approaching “day”, we shouldn’t accept the inevitable by allowing it to submerge our witness and walk. The deeper the darkness of the hour, the more vivid the brightness of His illumination. The greater the troubles of this age, the more manifest is His glorious, sufficient grace. The bigger today’s pressures and pain, the more readily will Christ carry His own – though not always in the way we expect.

Grace upon Grace

As the mystery of lawlessness increases, so the mystery of godliness multiplies - grace; more grace; much grace – grace built upon more grace. 'For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.' John 1:16 'For where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, Romans 5:20 -pressed down; shaken together and running over.' Luke 6:38 We are to be lights in this darkest of age. We are to live our life in patient endurance. We are to hold fast and not to lose our steadfastness. We are not to be swept away by the error of the age – the mystery of lawlessness.

Multiplied Evil

The mystery of lawlessness is the multiplication of evil in a world of fallen men. We are forewarned that this mystery can cause the loss of a believer’s stability: 'for men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. John 3:19 But we are forewarned of this approaching period by the apostle Peter: 'you, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware..' 1 Peter 3:17

Morning Star

It is often said that the darkest time of the night comes just before the break of dawn, and the darkness we are experiencing today is heralding the bright Morning Star. Today’s increasing wickedness is a precursor to Christ’s return for His bride: the Church. In the meantime, the mystery of lawlessness is reaching fullness and we are to take care. Beware: 'be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position'. 2 Peter.3:18

Grow in Grace

But – praise God this dear apostle, Peter, continues with the next verse. He explains in simple terms how this is achieved… 'but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Peter 3:18 We grow in grace and mature in the faith when we fix our eyes on the Lord, and the mature believer is the one that will not be overwhelmed by life’s circumstances.

Eternal Perspective

Remember – God has an eternal perspective, and we are called on to patiently endure.. and God has equipped His children as He prepares us for our eternal future: 'for I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us'. Romans 8:18