Deception

"I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable."    

                                                                                        Colossians 2:4    CSB 

If we are not careful, we can so easily be led astray and persuaded by words that sound so reasonable. This is the hallmark of a false teacher. They make things seem so genuine and before we know it, we have been hooked.

Deceit is the ability to be able to manipulate and mislead a person in the way of falsehood. Things can appear very genuine and feasible and can have the ability to lead us down the path of spiritual death. Let us take a look at James 1:14-16:

'But each one is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.'

These verses have been used quite often to describe an adulterous spirit, and there is truth in this. However, deception and desire are more widespread. It can affect every area where one is drawn away and tempted. It can be the desire to steal money, the 'no one will find out if I alter the account books a little.' Yes they will and you will pay the price. 'No one will mind if I take a few hours off work today, after all, I work hard.' Somebody will and they will be only too pleased to report you. Tony Evans says, 'Desire leads to deception, which then leads to disobedience and then to death.' Think about this line with our two examples above. Your desire for money or to bum a few hours off work leads you into deception. You actually believe that you will not get found out. The devil has deceived you into disobeying the trust that was placed in you when you first took your job. When you are found out - and you will be - you will probably be fired and this leads to death of this job and on the money side of things, possibly a conviction. This leads to spiritual death of your testimony.

The devil will deceive you with reasonable arguments of why it will be ok to steal that money or take some time off work. Remember the way he deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden, 'You will not die' (Genesis 3:4). He is the master of deception, he is a liar and he will lead you into spiritual death and physical too if he can. Be careful.

Clip your desires into shape and allow God to change these. Watch the deception, its around every corner and you never know when it will strike. It may find you at your lowest and desire can be difficult to handle when you are like this. The way to handle desire and deception is to shout to God. If Adam and Eve had done this that day in the garden, things would have been different. Learn by this and call on Him in such times.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                 

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