2 Thessalonians 2:7 - My Backyard

2 Thessalonians 2:7 "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way." (NASB)

There was a guy I knew when I was growing up who every child in our neighborhood feared. He lived across the ravine that separated our streets, and all I heard about this guy is that you didn't ever want to meet up with him or any of his "gang".

Of course, "gang" back then meant (at least in my neck of the woods) that the worst things these guys probably did was put out a streetlight or two, ring people's doorbells at night and run, or throw stones at you if you were a kid and you got close enough to them. By today's standards these guys wouldn't qualify as a gang, but as a pre-school class.

But they were formidable stuff to us back then, and the last thing we needed was to be off our street anywhere and come up on any of them.......but this was particularly the case with the leader.

I don't really remember what qualified this guy for such feared status, but I do remember the stories of what he did to this or that person (which I'm sure were considerably embellished upon by our young, fertile minds). And the bloody noses and black eyes that this guy meted out to kids unfortunate enough to cross his path were legend to us.

I also remember the time I came face to face with him.............I don't remember how long it took my feet to get in the "run" mode, but I'm sure it was nanoseconds...............I raced back down the ravine.........and struggled up the other side until I reached the safety of *my* backyard........presided over by and ruled by my dad and mom. I knew I was safe then because I was under their protection.

When I read tonight's scripture, I recalled this instance in the past and started seeing some similarities. The things in common are not of the same degree........what Paul is speaking of is literally eternal, life-and-death things............and what I faced as a child (although it seemed life or death to me back then) isn't even in the same league as what Paul is talking about.

When I reached the safety of my parents' domain, no one (especially not this guy) could touch me. Take them away, though, and the world would suddenly get a lot darker, and I would be at the whim of anyone who wished to do me evil.

This is also true of the Lord and His Role as my heavenly Parent.

What I find truly terrifying about what Paul is speaking about above is the kind of world without the Lord watching over it. I can't imagine there being anything more terrible than some of the unspeakable horrors I hear about which happen today.....but Paul, Daniel and others paint a picture that's chilling to me.

All of this strengthens my resolve to continue to grow strong in the Ways of the Lord..............continue to seek Him out.....through prayer and reading His Word............but above all..........to reach out to those around me, both by the example I set and the words I speak, and open them up to the safety of the Love of my God whose name is Jesus.

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on January 16, 2004 in post #452. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added April 14, 2006

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