There are three actors who play a part in the delusion that can come over any of us.

FIRST, the man himself who knows the truth, but denies it and instead worships the creation.

“21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27and in the same way also the men abandoned the
natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, ” Rom 1:21-28

SECOND, the devil who blinds the minds of the unbelieving so that they believe what is false.

“3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”, 2 Cor. 3:3,4

THIRD, God allows the obstinate soul to believe what is false because the person did not love truth.

“the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” 2 Thess 2:9-12.

In this text we see the sinner does not love the truth. In it we see that the “activity of satan” is at work utilizing false signs and wonders to deceive. And in it we see that God gives the sinner what he wants by sending a deluding influence upon him so that the lie he loves is believable.

It’s quite east to put the blame on God. But that won’t fly. It’s also easy to blame the devil. But the devil can be resisted. Ultimately, and the judgment will confirm this, the fault lies with the sinner who chooses to reject God in favor of the enticements of this world. The fault doesn’t lie with Adam, the world, or with our parents. We each sin and we choose to accept or reject God’s will.

If you die in your sins, God will have sent a delusion upon you. If you never become a Christian, be certain the devil at some point blinded your mind from seeing the glory of the Gospel. And if you never confess Christ and carry your cross, you will be able to look back at that moment you were confronted with the reality of God – because He in mercy made Himself known to you, Rom 1:18ff – and you rejected Him.

If you can still read the Scripture and be pricked, don’t put off your obedience and risk the hardening of your heart. Obey the Gospel today.

I will close with the words that Ananias said to Saul, “And now why do you delay? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on His name.” Acts 22:16. Until you are baptized, you haven’t properly called on the name of the Lord for salvation. It’s faith.