The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭20‬
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

I remember through the years many who were warned of a disaster coming but refused to take precautions. We see this in hurricanes for sure, people in the path who will not evacuate. We saw it with volcanic eruptions, like Mt. St. Helens. And we recently saw a lack of precautions taken by many in the path of wildfires. In Hawaii a few years back, water resources were restricted, allocated based on race or privileged status. In California, some reservoirs and hydrants were found dry at the time they were needed most.

In similar fashion, spiritually, people refuse to believe the truth about how evil sin is and their need for a Savior, namely Jesus Christ.  

The father of lies, Satan, uses cunning tricks to deceive people and keep them from preparing their hearts to follow the Lord. A sign or wonder, intrigue, and a focus on pleasure-driven, selfish living. This is clearly stated here: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (II Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬)

Ultimately these deceived people will perish. Why?  Because they refuse to believe the truth which is required for them to accept Jesus in their hearts and be saved. The Romans parallel verses make it clear that God has made it plain to them, so they are without excuse.

The second half of Romans 1 goes on to describe what happens to people who do not accept the truth of God and live. They become evil at so many levels. Here is a capstone verse that is chilling: “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭28‬)

The warning is clear: Delight in wickedness and earthly pleasures at your own peril and ultimate demise!

So how do we approach people who are deceived in the lie of Satan that the truth of God is not worth following? We must boldly speak the truth of God in love. And those who open their hearts to it will be saved.

Lord, thank you for your power to save us. You delight in each of your children following the truth. Oh, how it pains you to see your children following the lies of Satan, the god of this age (or the world), also called the Prince of Darkness, who appears as an angel of light. I pray that many of my family and friends will come to follow you wholeheartedly.