Deception

A woman divorces her husband because she is tired of life as it is and then proclaims, “I know this is the will of God because I feel such peace.” Another person says, “I know what the Bible says, but you can’t put God in a box.” Another man divorces his wife because he wants a different life and then proclaims that he has studied the Bible extensively and there was nothing to prohibit his actions. I wonder if his children buy his logic. A pastor of a church watches multiple divorces happen then hopes that both parties will continue to attend as if the decision to divorce is not much different than changing your clothes.

A snake shows up in the garden and tells the woman, “Go ahead and eat. Not only will it not hurt you but it will actually help you to be like God. Her husband stands by and does nothing to stop her and then also eats.

Deception: how do we protect ourselves? Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? That’s why we can’t trust our heart. Proverbs 24:6 says, “in abundance of counselors there is victory.” The first counselor we need is God’s Word. We need to follow it and run from those who try to tell us it doesn’t mean what it clearly says. In the Phillip’s version, Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into it’s own mould.” We are then told to let God renew our mind. That change comes from God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

A second and very important protection is good friends. Unless we dislike someone, it can be hard to confront them. We need to love people enough to tell them the truth when we see them going down the wrong path. A true friend will do this even if it put the relationship on rocky ground. Many times the person going through deception will cut off anyone who says what they don’t want to hear.

We will do well to surround ourselves with people who will help us to avoid deception. We also need to cleanse our mind daily with the Word of God.

I came across this article in World Magazine. It fits well with the thoughts that have been on my mind today. I encourage you to read it.

Philip