Jesus has warned all that there will be an increase in deception and a tremendous potential for people to be deceived. Jesus says, “And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am He,’ and, "The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not follow them.” This deception thing is not new; it is as old as the story of mankind. In Genesis 3 you are told about how Satan initially deceived mankind. It is interesting to note how very little has changed.
The first thing that Satan did in tempting Eve was to dispute the Word of God. Satan appeared to Eve and said (Genesis 3:1) “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden.” He suggested to Eve that somehow she had misunderstood what God meant. “One of the ways that happens today goes something like this; you have a clear plain Word of God in front of you and it tells you that you shouldn’t do something you’d really like to do. Then someone will try to give you an ‘alternative interpretation’ of the text that will allow you to do what you know God doesn’t want you to do. The road from doubt to denial is very short. The next thing Satan does is contradict the word of God. In Genesis 3:4 Satan says to Eve, “You will not surely die.” But that is a flat contradiction of what God has revealed in Genesis 2:17.
The first thing that Satan did in tempting Eve was to dispute the Word of God. Satan appeared to Eve and said (Genesis 3:1) “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden.” He suggested to Eve that somehow she had misunderstood what God meant. “One of the ways that happens today goes something like this; you have a clear plain Word of God in front of you and it tells you that you shouldn’t do something you’d really like to do. Then someone will try to give you an ‘alternative interpretation’ of the text that will allow you to do what you know God doesn’t want you to do. The road from doubt to denial is very short. The next thing Satan does is contradict the word of God. In Genesis 3:4 Satan says to Eve, “You will not surely die.” But that is a flat contradiction of what God has revealed in Genesis 2:17.
Every time you try to find an interpretation of a Scripture that will permit you to do something you know is wrong – every time you give a little ground to the devil and you lose some ground from the Word of God – it isn’t long until Satan drives a truck through that opening and dumps a load of stinking garbage in your life.” Satan says, “For God know that in the day that you eat of it your eyes will be open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” He was telling Eve that because she will be as God decide for herself what is good and what is evil.
One of the easiest places to see how deception is at work in your world is in how your culture treats sin. In the minds of many people, an “improper relationship” is different from adultery. Homosexuality is just an “alternative” lifestyle.
Little by little the idea of absolute truth is being eroded out of your culture.
Little by little the idea of absolute truth is being eroded out of your culture.
“Be not deceived” is the Lord’s first warning, and you must take it to heart. You are living in the very edge of the latter times. The spirit of deception is rampant in your world! The only sure way to keep your balance in a deceptive world is to know the Bible and obey what God tells you to do. Jesus warns you of three great dangers
1. You are not to be deceived into departing from the truth. 2. You are not to be frightened into failing to be a witness for Christ 3. You are not to be distracted into living as if this life is all there is.
1. You are not to be deceived into departing from the truth. 2. You are not to be frightened into failing to be a witness for Christ 3. You are not to be distracted into living as if this life is all there is.
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