Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (I Thessalonians 2:11, 12)
Delusions
I did not teach my daughter to walk, but she watched the rest of us ambulate and she wanted to learn, so she learned. I did not teach my son to read, but he saw early that books were important and he wanted what was in them, so he learned. I did not teach my dog to ‘come.’ And he does not yet see the value, so he does not come when called.
Learning happens, particularly regarding the gospel, because the Holy Spirit applies God’s Word to His people’s hearts, and we learn.
Our submission to God, our love that responds to His love, our openness to His sovereignty, our willingness to know what He knows are what causes God to teach us.
If we are not submitting, loving, open, or willing, instead He allows us to delude ourselves.
That is an unpleasant sentence to read. But it is how God works. While He is Master, Lord, and Sovereign, He tends to lead us as we want to be led.
Our remaining delusions are not His fault. We bring them on ourselves. Our remaining ignorance is not His fault. We bring it on ourselves. Our remaining childishness is not His fault. We bring it on ourselves.
And the answer is found in Jesus. Listening to Him wipes out delusions. Listening to Him defeats ignorance. Listening to Him brings maturity.
We can not teach ourselves, but Jesus can.