The mystery of sin will not always be around to confuse us! And, thank God, it is limited right now. There will be a time, however, when it will gain free reign. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit currently stops it.
The Bible explains: “The mystery of this sin is already at work. But the mystery cannot effectively work until the person (probably the Holy Spirit) now holding it back gets out of the way.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7)
Holy Spirit, thank you for hindering evil, sin, and lawlessness. Without you, it seems all hell would break loose, and we would all (yes, all) go too far in chasing our longings and lusts. Thank you for shepherding us and turning us back to you every day.
The Bible explains: “You’ll also remember that I told you the Anarchist is being held back until just the right time.
“That doesn’t mean that the spirit of anarchy is not now at work. It is, secretly and underground.
“But the time will come when the Anarchist will no longer be held back but will be let loose.
But don’t worry. Master Jesus will be right on his heels and blow him away. The Master appears and—puff!—the Anarchist is out of there.” (2 Thessalonians 2:6–8, The Message)
Some suggest that when the Spirit is removed from holding back sin is when the church is removed as those who are indwelt by the Spirit. The Spirit could not be removed if all believers are still here. 1 Tim 3:15 “if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” The people of God are a pillar and buttress to hold back the deception of evil.
Some folks get their girdle in knots at the mention of the rapture, or catching up of God’s people. They consider the rapture concept to be the pillar of lazy believers thinking because they will all escape tribulation. The rapture only suggest believers escape the Great Tribulation, not all tribulation. It’s pretty obvious we all get some tribulation. Thank you Father for using us to be restrainers of sin along with reconciling people to God.