Deception

Everywhere we turn today we find some form of deception. All forms of media, the news, social media, our education systems, advertising, government—local and federal, and most anywhere else that could be mentioned have become filled with lies and deception.

We can easily find where the truth has been twisted or even left out completely, rewriting of history is rampant, half truths are spoken, and we can even find false teaching in many so-called churches.

I have gotten to the point of not believing anything on its face if it comes from a public forum. Yes, it is that bad! It’s not only the beguiling of people through lies and half truths, but many are now to the place where they don’t want to hear or know what is happening and are doing the proverbial “bury their head in the sand” to avoid responsibility.

This is a very bad strategy, because as soon as a person tries to shield themselves from the truth of what is happening by burying their head in the sand, Satan is going to try and kick them through the goal posts of life! In other words, if you try to be naive about these goings on, Satan is going to attack in a very blatant manner! Why? Because he does not want his evil efforts ignored!

It is far more difficult in today’s times to find where the truth is spoken than it is to find where lies and deception are rampant. This is a sad state of affairs indeed.

So why is this happening these days? Just as Eve was beguiled at the tree of knowledge of good and evil, all this deception has a purpose.

It happens with the intent to sway, confuse, entice, and clutter the minds of all of us! It is virtually impossible to avoid all the traps of the adversary that are so easily found in the societies of this world today.

We find our minds inundated with garbage and confusion, all to try and affect and mold our understanding. But the Word of God says, Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

What I see in this world today is that it is more important than ever to compare all things against the Word of God! The truth will be found in the Scriptures and not in the world.

All this twisting of the truth and the lies that are so prevalent in society is meant to confound our own understanding and redirect us from the truth.

John 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We must always seek truth through the word and teachings of the word, not allowing ourselves to be confused or misguided. Satan is the father of lies and desires to destroy us through deceptions, cunning traps and lies, once we begin to fall prey to his efforts it becomes easy to begin to lie to ourselves even.

I have learned through teaching the Word and have heard from Pastors that preach the Word that speaking the truth will often anger people.

Yes anger people, the saddest part of this is that they get instantly caught up in themselves and fail to realize that it was the truth that made them angry and not the person speaking it, but it seems it is easier to (shoot the messenger) so to speak than it is to do a bit of self examination!

I have told the story of a man that heard a sermon on the scripture of being unequally yoked and it made him so angry that he left the church, just an example of how the truth of God's word will anger the misguided at times so much so that they will even separate themselves from the body of Christ and deprive themselves of hearing the word. Some will go so far as to despise the teacher or preacher for conveying the truth (I’ve had it happen to me).

We as Christians should revel in the truth and corrections of the word, this is a great time of learning and maturing in our walk with the Lord. Getting angry shows our immaturity and lack of desire to be Christ-like. Is that harsh of me to say? Maybe, but it is no more harsh on others as it has been for me to understand myself!

In John 16  Jesus said of His people, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

We as believers and followers of the Lord cannot allow ourselves to be of the world (worldly) we are supposed to be separate, different than the nonbelievers, we are supposed to be the teachers and examples for the worldly to look to for the truth, but sadly that does not happen nearly as often as it should!

Our actions and lifestyles should reflect Christ, in all the ways we conduct ourselves Christ should be seen through us and not reflections of the world.

Our promise of paradise should be reflected in our joy and we should be eager to share the good news of our risen Savior.

We as Christians should be aware of what is happening in this world, so that we know what to pray for and about, but we are not to be caught up in it.

I cannot pray effectively if I have no knowledge of the areas that need prayer, but I can resist all the turmoil by not delving into the depths of the depravity.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

The scripture tells us to pray without ceasing,

1 Thessalonians 5 tells us, 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

Be not deceived by this world my Brothers and Sisters, living in the flesh like the lost, but be knowledgeable in the word of God living in the light teaching the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Ran to God always in all things, comparing everything to the word and seeking the teaching of the word that we might not be deceived by the powers of the air.

Loving the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind every minute of every day, praying fervently and without ceasing that we might be seen as the children of God through the darkness.