Deception
Deception is defined as the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid, that which is false or invalid. It comes in many forms and we should continually be aware, when we are striving to live for God by the truth of His Word. Revelations 12:9 tells us that Satan is deceiving the whole world. Even Simon Peter was sifted as wheat, by Satan, as it talks about in Luke 22:31. He doesn’t want anyone to overcome evil (Satan) by continually doing good for God. Anyone who does overcome is imitating Jesus Christ, and Satan loses another subject in his kingdom (Psalm 37:27; Rom. 12:21). 2 Peter 1:10-11 says; Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Jesus warns all His followers in the last days to be careful and not be religiously misled (Matt. 24:5, 24; Luke 21:8). How will you know, and how can you be sure when you are being deceived? What does God’s word say? In order to have a better understanding of the Bible, we should approach it as a lawyer by proving all things with Scripture (Acts 17:11). In Matthew 24, Jesus was asked by His disciples what would happen at the end of the age of man’s rule on this earth. The first subject Jesus addressed in Matthew 24 concerned those who would come preaching in His name (Matt. 24:5). They would deceive and mislead many from the narrow Way that only very few find (Matt. 7:14). Religious deception, then, must be the number one obstacle to finding the truth of God.
Matthew 24:11 says; Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. How can one know for certain that the person he is listening to knows the truth, instead of religious lies and half-truths? Jesus said we would know them by their good deeds or fruits (Col. 1:10; Matt. 7:20). God’s true ministers must preach the obedience that is a part of the faith of Jesus Christ (Acts 6:7). Only through this obedience are one's sins covered by the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2). You must walk in the light to have your sins covered by the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:7). There is one faith, one truth and it must be practiced daily (1 John 1:6; John 3:21). That truth is the Way of righteousness—the Way that Jesus Christ lived and we are to imitate (Matt. 21:32).
Jesus not only came to show us how to live to please the Father, He also told us how to live by His very own words. He commanded us to glorify the Father daily by doing righteous good works and thus, let our lights shine before others as godly examples of righteousness (Matt. 5:16). Jesus said that many who would follow Him would do more good works than He did (John 14:12). This is how you learn righteousness—by engaging in it daily like Jesus Christ our example did (Jer. 9:24). Consider the momentous impact that Jesus’ words and actions had on those who observed Him and heard Him speak daily. Consider the effect the apostles had on society at large, and how they were hated by many of the established religions of their day—members of religions who claimed they worshiped God in the right manner. Many do not realize that there were many false churches preaching in the name of Jesus Christ in Jesus’ day (Acts 19:13; Luke 9:49; Matt. 7:22-23). At one time, Jesus had more than 80 disciples who were following Him; including the original twelve apostles. Later, most of them left and only the original twelve remained (Luke 6:13; Luke 10:1; John 6:66-68). Could those who fell away from Jesus Christ have started their own groups or churches? This, of course, would be very feasible.
What, then, was Jesus Christ’s advice to those who would seek Him and His truth from His word at the end of the age of man’s rule on earth? Jesus said boldly, “DO NOT GO AFTER THOSE who come preaching in My name” (Luke 21:8). How, then, is one to seek God? One seeks God by diligently studying (not just reading) the Scriptures to find out what kind of conduct pleases God (2 Tim. 2:15 King James Version). We are not to remain fools but understand what God’s Will is. Once we know what God's Will is, He desires that we perform it daily to be pleasing to Him (Eph. 5:17; John 5:30; 7:17; 8:29; 1 John 3:22). It is a fact that one is either pleasing, and serving, God daily by doing His Will or one is pleasing, and serving, Satan daily by not doing it (Matt. 6:24). In Matthew 6:10 we are told to do God’s Will upon this earth daily as it is being done in heaven by God, if we are to be pleasing to Him. It then behooves us to know what that Will is, and to know it well, so that we can walk the straight and narrow Way every day to please Him.
God is once again going to determine who the righteous are and who the wicked are, who will become sheep and who will remain goats, who will become whole wheat and who will remain tares (Mal. 3:18; Matt. 25:33-46; 13:24-30, Rev. 22:12). God wants to know who will be a servant of others for Him, like Jesus Christ and Dorcas were (Acts 9:36). This is how to be a doer of the word, be holy by living holy and no longer be religiously deceived (James 1:22). Satan is used by God in heaven to test humans to see whether they will allow themselves to be deceived. God wants to see who is going to receive a love for His truth so as to be saved, and who is not. God wants to find out who could care less. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 says; And with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. These people are the wicked, that God must sort out before He returns to make a world where only righteousness dwells (Mal. 3:18). This is that great test God is going to bring upon the whole world (Rev. 3:10).
Jesus said it is very important for a person to follow Him and not get sidetracked. He especially warns us about those that stray from His truth and message in 2 Timothy 4:3-4; For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. He warns us in Romans 16:17 as well; Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. Look up in your dictionary what it means to 'turn away' and its synonyms. God is very serious about this (2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Cor. 15:33; Prov. 12:26). He used the example of one disciple who wanted to go bury his father, warning us not to let earthly distractions keep us from obeying and doing God’s Will above everything else (Matt. 8:21-22). Deuteronomy 30:17-18 says; But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. Jesus says that if you do not continue to follow Him because you love your friends, relatives, children or husband more than God are not worthy of eternal life (Matt. 10:37). This is one of the biggest tests that a few may experience.
The Bible is full of examples of another kind of deception; when we are deceived by our own human nature. It is usually because of strife, bitterness, envy, jealousy, competitiveness or an unforgiving spirit (Gal. 5:20-26). These attributes are not from God, but from the devil and we should watch out for them. They are of the flesh and not from God’s Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:6; Gal. 5:16). Hebrews 12:15 warns us; See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled. I have seen many a person’s faith suffer shipwreck because of these things (1 Tim. 1:19). I have seen others become so good at justifying themselves, that they sound like intellectuals or philosophers (Luke 16:15). I have seen many make God’s simple truth, very complicated in their lives. I have seen the power of Satan work through those who would not first be followers, but wanted to be teachers before they taught themselves (James 3:1). I have seen wives control their husbands and destroy their faith by doing so (1 Peter 3:1-6, 8, 9). I have seen men do the same (1 Peter 3:7-9). I have seen many who were called to live holy, pure lives begin to think thoughts which are far removed from what is holy and pure (Matt. 16:23; Rom. 8:5-6, Ps. 7:9, Luke 6:45).
As people trying to live for God, we are going to be misunderstood, misquoted and have evil spoken of us (Job 15:35; Neh. 6:8, Ps. 83:5, Ps. 119:113, Prov. 24:2, Acts 14:2). If we did not have these trials, we would not grow, nor would the Lord be working with us any longer. God wants to know who is going to endure (Matt. 10:22). He wants to know who is going to keep on keeping on. God tests those who live His Way to see who will devour others and cause dissension and disharmony (1 John 1:6; Rom. 16:17; Gal. 5:15; 2 Tim. 2:14-15). Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household." (Matt. 10:34-36). Yes, all who live for the Lord will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:10-12). If we do not continue to follow Jesus Christ, and keep His Ways and overcome by doing so, we are not worthy of eternal life (Matt. 10:38). Each one of us must answer to God in regard to the tests and trials we all must go through, and if we allow ourselves to stray from the truth of His word (1 Tim. 1:5-7; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
Your spiritual walk is between you and the Lord, and we will each stand before God to give an account for our lives (Rev. 20:12; 2 Tim. 4:8; Heb. 4:12; Rom. 2:16; John 12:48). We are called with a free will and we must make the choice, for ourselves, every day if we are going to live by God’s Ways (Deut. 30:15-20; Rev. 22:12). Whole Wheat strives to help you through these tests and trials by encouraging you with God’s word and constantly reminding you of the one and only truth that saves (Ps. 7:10; 119:160; Zech. 8:16, John 14:6). Seek the truth and it shall set you free (John 8:32). We strive to help you persevere and keep your hand on the plow (Luke 9:62). We strive to help you know how to please God, how to live godly, how to overcome and how to receive answered prayers, using the examples given in Scripture. Most of all, we strive to help you know God, prove that He exists and be His friend and disciple (John 15:8). The foundation of Whole Wheat has always been proving what is true, through Scripture, by studying your own Bible. The best way to learn is to convict yourself. Romans 14:22 says; The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. It is your choice whether or not you use the resources we offer (2 Pet. 1:12-13; 3:1). They are here for you as a support and to share with others. As you continue to apply this message and strengthen your faith in Christ Jesus, then God can continually reveal more to you as you spiritually mature. Then you will not be among those deceived, but will be prepared to meet the Lord instead (Luke 1:17; Rev. 3:7-8).