The Summer Of 21

                It was the summer of 2021....and our neighborhood decided to resume our yearly picnics. Generally on these days....held in the backyard of one of our yards....you wind up just sitting next to whoever is next to an empty chair. This time it was me and a Christian friend who I see all the time....have been neighbors with for over thirty years....but did not often get the opportunity to sit and talk for an hour or more. He has been a Christian longer than I have....and is one who I consider to be very mature in the faith. 
               We covered a lot of territory in our talk....and thus somewhere along the line it had to include politics....and Donald Trump. I knew in advance that he had long since been disgusted with the former president. The setting of the conversation gave us the luxury of sharing deeper thoughts....and having the time to think a comment or question over before responding. He and I tend to think alike on a lot of things....but I was going to test that.
                We both could understand how the evangelical community had picked up and carried the banner of Donald Trump back in 2016. I voted for Trump back then....and imagine that my friend did also....but how on God's blue luminous planet....could they not have given him his pink slip by now....for he proved to have absolutely no conscience....and no concern at all for the concept of truth....whether it be on big matters that affect us all or even small insignificant matters where he still will lie about as easily as he breathes.
                So I brought it up....a man void of conscience....a void capable of being filled with anything more powerful than his own will....and a man who seemingly had a 'mortal wound' on one of his 'heads'....the great office of President of the United States....leader of the free world....a "wound' that almost inconceivably....after an impeachment....and January 6....and another impeachment....and over seven years of stirring up bitter dissension with just about everybody....a 'wound' that miraculously could be healed? Could a man like this turn out to be....'the'....Antichrist?
               I thought that he might laugh it off....most people would....or take the position that the Antichrist was most-likely going to come from the Middle East or something along that line....but he surprised me....as he paused to think it over as seems to be his custom...and said something like.....'If he gets out of this latest mess....(January 6)....I might have to consider it.'
               Well....Donald Trump has not only got out of that mess....but a continuous bombardment of messes and mistakes and outrageous comments and narcissistic rants bordering on severe psychological disorder if not already over the line.
                I do not at this time really think that Trump could be the Antichrist....although I firmly believe that he is an antichrist as John labels them....and definitely a biblical false prophet....but I just can't completely let it go. God's Word warns us of great delusion....false prophets and false Christs....miracles and great signs that could....if possible....deceive even the elect!
         Actually I have gotten together with this friend of mine a few times since that picnic....but never brought up that conversation. May God give His elect that measure of discernment where we see right through those....'great signs'....where as delusion and deception takes so many captive....that it might awaken us....and strengthen our trust in the One who has warned us....the One who is coming in righteous judgment....and the One who is coming for His own....that this remnant might bring glory to Him as He appears!