How Did It Happen? (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

You have heard of people who lived a terribly wicked life and then for some reason became a Christian.  How did such a thing happen?  Some credit it to circumstances in the individuals' lives and in response to them, they make a turn to God hoping that things will get better.  Other people attest it to a fear people have of dying and being judged for their sins.  Both of these situations may be factors in their decision, but they only have a minimal impact.  What brings people to God, whether it be to Christ for salvation or to the father in Heaven, is the working of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the word of God.

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

It is the Holy Spirit that does a work of drawing us to God.  He works through conviction, guidance, comfort, intercession, teaching, directing and overseeing our lives.  His work is done in conjunction with truth or the word of God.  As lost sinners, he brought truth to us by various ways.  He then used that truth in our hearts to bring us to repentance and a calling out to Jesus.  He continues to work upon us in that same manner.  For situations that we face in our lives today, the Holy Spirit performs the same work by using the word of God.  From truth and the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can gain the strength that we need to face the trials and troubles.

What we must do in the midst of difficult times is continue to expose our hearts to the word of God.  Without truth in our hearts, we limit the work that the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish.  Sadly to say, most who struggle with trials give up.  They stop exposing themselves to the word of God in the many ways that God wants to bring it to them and because of that decision, they weaken themselves and limit the Holy Spirit's liberty working in their lives. But if we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit and expose ourselves to truth through God's word, he will accomplish the plan that he has chosen for our lives.  The work is accomplished by God: our part is to follow the Holy Spirit's leading to his precious powerful word of truth.