Living for Jesus Christ in a Broken & Sin-Filled World: Volume 21: Be Not Deceived: Deceived

As challenging as it may seem, we are living in a world surrounded by deception: in government, in the media, in religion, in education, in consumer culture, in industry, in health and science, and even in psychology. At least that's what we can conclude if our eyes and ears are open and we are students of God's Word. When did this deception begin? A very long time ago; in the Garden of Eden. You probably know (or have heard of) the story of how Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent (who we later find to be the devil) into believing they could disobey God (without consequence) and eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That single act of rebellion plunged the entire creation into brokenness and sin. This wasn't just taking a bite from an apple and having their eyes opened; this was the willful act of deciding they could choose for themselves what is good and what is evil. In other words, they decided they did not need God to tell them what was right and what was wrong. And here we are, thousands of years later, struggling to ascertain truth from lies in practically every aspect of our daily lives. Just in case we don't fully grasp the significance of this event in our history, the Bible provides us with dozens of explicit instances (lies, disguises, false prophets, strategic deception in war, self-deception, spiritual deception), which have occurred between then and now, detailing the consequences of Adam and Eve's poor decision. So how are we to "survive" in a world filled with deception? In a world tainted by lies and under the power of the devil? In a world where even our leaders intentionally mislead us into thinking they have our best interest at heart? There is only one way, and that way is Jesus Christ. He told us Himself that He was "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." He told the Pharisees that He knew their father Abraham, and that He was the "I Am," the same phrase God used with Moses at the burning bush in Exodus chapter three. He said He was "the Door," and all others are thieves and robbers. And He promised us that His Spirit would come and "guide us into all truth."In other words, He made it very clear that He alone can and does provide us with the only means to see through the enemy's deception and his plans to steal, kill, and destroy. When we realize what Christ did for us on the Cross of Calvary, when we turn from our sin and rebellion (repent) and humbly come to Him in faith, He absolutely will.