Seeking TruthSample

The Risk of Deception

‘Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.’

(Colossians 2:8 NLT)

There are some really smart people in the world. People who think and conceptualise in a remarkable and articulate way. They have a way of wording things so convincingly and in a manner that is so easy to swallow. What they say may make sense and correlate with our modern culture – your life may even align with what these thinkers and philosophers say!

But there is one key ingredient that can separate what these clever people say from what you should ultimately invest your faith in: Truth.

Isn’t that what we’re all searching for? True answers to life’s most complex questions?

On the flip side of truth are lies. Sadly, our world has some very convincing lies wrapped up in clever-sounding truths that cause us to become confused and, at worst, deceived.

This is spiritual deception.

Spiritual deception is not an original concept. It is a tactic of Satan and is as old as time itself.

To spiritually deceive someone is to mislead where they have put their faith by false appearance or a false statement.

Let me give you an example:

God creates the Heavens and the earth in the first book of the Bible (Genesis) and places His human creation in a garden called Eden.

Eden is perfect. Everything the man and woman in the garden could want or need is provided for by their Creator.

God lets the man and woman roam freely, having given only one stipulation:

‘The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden - except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

(Genesis 2:15-17 NLT – emphasis added)

Later on in Genesis, Satan comes to the woman in the form of a snake with only one mission – to steal, kill and destroy her trust in God and her relationship with Him.

Take a moment to read Genesis 3:4-5 in the Bible.

Notice how the questioning of God’s command by the snake leads the woman to question the nature and character of God.

His deception was wrapped up in just enough truth to take the woman down. It would give her the knowledge of good and evil, like God.

Satan will create counterfeit truths (a.k.a. lies wrapped in just enough truth to deceive us) and feed it to us all day long.

Friends, my point in sharing this piece of the Bible is to encourage you to carefully measure what you choose to believe in. It has the power to derail your entire life, as well as rob you of the beautiful and abundant relationship that is readily available to you in Jesus Christ.

Father God,

Thank you for the Bible. I understand that it is your Word to humanity and is full of your truth. As I discover more about you and having faith in you, I pray that you will help me to separate lies from truth so that I am not deceived.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.