2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
These are wonderful words penned by Paul and
true today; if we know Jesus Christ personally we can
especially after all the heavy stuff he has just been
identify with the sentiments so eloquently expressed
offloading. They are like a breath of fresh air. The
by Paul—God loved me, and God chose me!
preacher man says to these dear folk, be secure!
The end of our election, as the missionary statesman
We read in verse 13, But we ought always to thank
Charles Simeon pointed out, ‘… was to salvation itself,
God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from
with all its inconceivable and lasting blessings.’ We
the beginning God chose you to be saved through the
cannot explain such love, neither should we explain it
sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the
away!
truth.
Joyce Daugherty, a member of Southeast Christian
Having looked at some perspectives that impact
Church in Louisville, Kentucky, travelled to an
tomorrow’s world in the previous few verses, Paul
orphanage in Donetsk, Ukraine, and it was there that
now looks back to eternity past and relishes the
she saw two-year-old Kristen. Her beautiful blue eyes
delicious relationship these dear saints have with the
framed the edges of a facial tumour, a haemangioma,
one who is from everlasting to everlasting.
but even that could not hide the baby’s impish grin.
For him, this is a supremely joyous moment as he
‘Kristen’s eyes were so alert that I just kept watching
reflects on their odyssey in grace. Paul reckons he can
her,’ said Daugherty. ‘There was something special
do no better than sincerely thank God for every one of
that tumour could not hide. I could have taken any of
them—a people who are the apple in the eye of God.
the children I saw home with me. At the same time, I
They are deeply loved by the Lord with a love that is
knew if I adopted Kristen, she’d have more than a new
undying and unchanging, a love that is uninfluenced
start—she’d have a new life.’
and undeserved; a love that is measureless and
‘These children are throwaways in Ukraine,’ says
matchless; a love that keeps on loving in spite of …
Nancy Stanbery who has helped facilitate more than
quite simply, it is a love that does not know how to do
130 adoptions in that land. ‘Most Ukrainian families
anything else but love.
are afraid of a child with any kind of disability.
Irrespective of the huge pressures they faced and
Mothers take them to an orphanage or abandon them
even though the odds were stacked against them in so
in a public place, walk away, and never look back.’
many ways, they can feel secure in his love. Totally
Daugherty chose Kristen. In November 2004 a
secure. They can rest and relax in the warmth of his
Louisville surgeon removed the haemangioma. Thin
unfailing love—a love that will not let them go.
scars are healing and everything about Kristen has
Away back before time itself the believers in this
changed dramatically. She chatters constantly—
church were personally chosen by God to be part of
saying ‘I love you’ over and over again to her mum.
his international family. In mercy and grace he set his
In a similar way, while we were still unlovely, our
affection upon them and, when the time was right, he
heavenly Father chose us, adopted us, and gave us
savingly drew them to himself.
new life in Jesus. Today, we can only love him
In a nutshell, that is how the doctrine of election
because he gave us the opportunity, and he amazingly
works out in practice. It was true then, it is no less
continues to love us. As Christians, we must and do
the gospel message—the day and hour, as Paul put it,
love God as our Father.
when we believed in the truth.
Our salvation finds its springs in God himself. And I
In a multi-faith society, pluralism and ‘diversity’ are
agree with the Puritan Thomas Manton that ‘waters
presented as the be-all and end-all of religious
are sweetest and freshest in their fountain.’ God is
experience. It needs to be said that there is no other
the source, the origin, of our salvation. Behind it all,
route for a man to take in order for him to be right
there is God! Before it all, there is God! Beneath it
with God than through trusting the absolute truth as
all, there is God!
we have it in Jesus Christ. It is exclusive! It is crucial.
Everything about our salvation, whether past, present,
In Christ alone!
or future, has God’s hallmark on it. There are many
The Puritan Richard Baxter (1615-91) noted: ‘If the
transformational benefits and blessings from this
gospel were a fable or human device, and if the word
enterprising doctrine that have an ongoing input in
of God were not true, ministers have the most
our daily life.
unworthy employment upon earth.’
It crushes human pride (cf. Titus 3:5). It exalts God (cf.
There is one way—Jesus. There is one door—Jesus.
Psalm 115:1). It produces unsurpassed joy (cf. 1 Peter
There is one message—Jesus.
1:1-2, 6, 8). It grants unimaginable privileges (cf.
We read in verse 14 that God called you to this
Ephesians 1:3). It promotes holiness of life (cf.
through our gospel, that you might share in the glory
Colossians 3:12-13). It provides security (cf.
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus Christ is a two-
Philippians 1:6).
way relationship—we are called to him and he shares
The reality of God’s electing love is manifest in our life
his life with us.
by the Holy Spirit and his unique ministry of
When we cast a vote for Jesus, we are on the winning
sanctification. He is the one who sets us apart from
team. When we came as sinners to Jesus, he certainly
sin to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord; he is the
did not back a loser in his eyes. We did not whistle for
one who encourages us to pursue righteousness and
help; he did the calling first! We come to him as the
to embrace the will of God for our life (cf. Romans
result of his love. He does not come to us as a result
15:16; 12:1-2).
of our love. Our love for him results from him calling
He is actively engaged in this role from the moment of
us, and our acceptance of that call.
our conversion to Jesus Christ and it is something that
This is God’s effectual and irresistible call (cf. Romans
he keeps on doing until we are glorified at the end of
8:30); it is an intensely gratifying experience for it
life’s journey. His desire is that we might reflect the
leads to a life of fulfilment and blessing that is way
beauty of Jesus and that we might radiate something
beyond our wildest dreams.
of our heavenly Father’s attractive goodness to those
This is what Charles Wesley (1707-88) had in mind
who know him not.
when he penned: Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast
We need to be free to be in love with Jesus in front of
bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a
people—and to be an ambassador to them, through
quickening ray— I woke, the dungeon flamed with
whom Jesus can introduce himself.
light; My chains fell off, my heart was free. I rose,
There is nothing airy-fairy about our relationship with
went forth, and followed thee.
God for it all began when we positively responded to
You see, when we experience grace, we enjoy God.
Glory is on the horizon for all of God’s people. It is
firm grip on the truth, rather than being weak or
something that we share the one with the other and,
vacillating. Be men! Bold. Strong. Our resolve is in
throughout the countless ages of eternal ecstasy, we
God.
will never grow tired or weary of being in the
‘At every turn,’ writes Philip Greenslade, ‘God’s sweet,
presence of one who is all-glorious.
fresh, bracing air of truth blows away the fog of lies
We share in his glory but we never take it to
and propaganda.’ The truth goes marching on!
ourselves, nor do we detract in any sense from his
In the final couple of verses in the second chapter, he
unrivalled, untarnished splendour. It is just that we
tells us to be encouraged when he writes: May our
savour and relish that eternal moment with his
Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who
majesty.
loved us and by his grace gave us eternal
We bask in the limelight of his resplendent loveliness
encouragement and good hope, encourage your
and we are enraptured with his appealing charm and
hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and
dignity. We are ‘lost in wonder, love, and praise’
word.
when we peer into this load of theology. We reflect
When the believers in Thessalonica wondered was it
his glory back to him as we praise him.
worth all the hassle, Paul gives them a double
Great counsel is given by the preacher man in verse
booster—not only is the Lord with them, so too is
15, let’s be strong. In other words, do not go running
Father God. Both are on their side! Yet another
after some new doctrinal fad, some exotic teaching.
convincing reference to the deity of our Lord Jesus
This is not the time to explore novel ideas about
Christ—he is fully equal with the Father in person,
theology. This is the time for God’s people to dig their
power, and respect.
roots down deep and ride out the storm. Back to the
In the midst of all the ups and downs of life, there is
Bible.
Jesus! He offers a clear-eyed perspective on the here
Paul’s appeal to these weary pilgrims is an
and after. He speaks calm into a troubled heart. He
impassioned one for he wants to see them going on
whispers words of encouragement and hope to those
with the Lord. They felt steamrolled, crushed, and
who are struggling to keep going.
deflated on the cold, hard concrete. For him and for
Paul prays for God to graciously undertake for them,
them it is always too soon to quit—there is no point in
not to circumnavigate the storms for them. He asks
them walking off site when the job is still not finished.
God to strengthen them, not for him to spare them.
It’s a call to stickability, to persevere, to keep plodding
The reality is, they have known and felt his bounteous
on! They have so much to lose if they throw the towel
love and intimate closeness, they have experienced
into the ring and, quite simply, it is just not worth it
and enjoyed lavish outpourings of his generous grace,
when the final whistle (or trumpet) blows.
they have an abundance of hope in their heart, with
Paul writes, So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to
all this, surely they can smile in the storm. Their life
the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word
will be inestimably richer through this harrowing
of mouth or by letter.
experience.
The apostle’s desire is for them to be strong in the
As John Ruskin says: ‘The highest reward for man’s toil
face of relentless opposition. He wants them to dig
and trouble is not what he gets for it, but what he
their heels in, hold their spiritual ground, and keep a
becomes by it.’ By God’s grace … all things work
This is the hour for us to get busy for God. We should
together for good (cf. Romans 8:28).
‘be up and doing for Jesus’ is how John Wesley
At the 2002 Winter Olympics American Apolo Ohno
expressed it. We need to use the powers and energy
hoped to win his second gold medal in the men’s
and gifting that he has sovereignly entrusted to us.
5,000-metre short track speed skating relay. During
Maximise the time. Cash in on opportunities. For one
one of the turns, an American skater fell but quickly
of the goals of a Christian is not only to go to heaven,
got back into the race. While the fall and recovery
but also to take as many people with him as he can!
only took a few seconds, it essentially put the
American team out of the race.
What was interesting was that the American team
began to skate slower and slower, eventually being
lapped by the gold-medal Canadians. Why did they
slow down? Because the hope of doing well was
gone!
What a fantastic pick-me-up benediction Paul has just
shared with them. An unshakeable promise of
present help and future glory. He gives them hope!
Fragile hearts are made brave hearts in the courage
and hope that God supplies. If that does not do the
trick, I have no idea what will!
By God’s grace and with God’s help, our best
intentions are made good, our good deeds are made
better, and our best words are made flesh. Yes, it is
difficult and demanding, it is hard going, but there is
so much in Christ to really brighten each and every
day.
In 1851 when C H Spurgeon pastored his first
church—Waterbeach Baptist Chapel—in England, he
visited one of his parishioners in the country. Over his
barn the brother had a weathervane with the words
‘God is love’ on the top.
The young pastor questioned the wisdom of that
message on the weathervane. He explained: ‘That
leaves the impression that God’s love is as
unpredictable as the wind.’ The dear countryman
responded: ‘What I mean by it is that no matter which
way the wind is blowing, God is love!’ Amen.