Articles
The Deception of Deceptions
Everyday people are deceived. They are deceived into buying a problem-free car that has nothing but problems. They are deceived into giving their credit card information to a person posing as a customer representative of a reputable company. They are deceived into signing documents that release them from any royalties of a product that they masterminded. Simply put, lives are destroyed daily because of deceivers and their deception. While those who are swindled by scammers and dishonest people are unfortunate, there is one duplicity that is soul-damning. This sham is by far the greatest lie ever told. It is the greatest robbery ever accomplished. It is the greatest form of trickery and fraud ever conceived. Sadly, people are deceived into thinking that they are in a right relationship with God, that the religion they are practicing is biblical, that there is no God, that God will overlook their sins, or that they will have ample enough time to repent of their sins. The consequences of this ruse are far-reaching and eternal.
It is understandable that people are deceived. In fact, that is the point of deception – to deceive. Since deception can be so rewarding some spend months perfecting their skill – all to the potential betterment of their lives. There is one who has had thousands of years to perfect his skill; unfortunately, he was a natural from the beginning.
In Genesis chapter three we read about this individual who deceived a woman into partaking of the forbidden fruit. His approach was brilliant. By his smooth talk he convinced her that the fruit “was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise” (Gen. 3.6). This cunningly devised plan paid high wages and was perfectly executed.
This is exactly how swindlers, scammers, and con artists work. First they perfect their skill, then they look for the ignorant, weak, naïve, and easily swayed. While these attributes are not necessarily negative, these are characteristics of those that deceivers prey on.
Notice the warnings about Satan, sin, and false teachers from the apostles: “For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me” (Rom. 7.11). “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve” (Rom. 16.18). “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality…” (1 Cor. 6.9). “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Cor. 15.33). “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11.3). “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5.6). “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3.12-13). “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you” (1 John 2.26).
While it is common for sin and religious error to deceive those who are weak, ignorant, or naïve, the most dangerous deception comes when one deceives himself. If one was to be honest, he would not want to be a victim of his own deceiving, let alone of Satan’s trickery. However, pride, selfishness, and disobedience cause many to drown in their deception. Therefore, the reason this kind of deception is so threatening is because once a person allows himself to be deceived, he may never learn of the deception and may continue his life never knowing he is a victim of his own doing – he commits spiritual suicide!
Consider these verses: “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal. 6.3). “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Gal. 6.7). “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1.22). “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless” (James 1.26). “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1.8).
Our heavenly Father has seen fit to teach us about deception. He does not want us to be targets of Satan’s cunning or of our own folly. There are at least three ways we can always destroy any attempts by deceivers. First, be knowledgeable in God’s word, for ignorance can breed all kinds of folly – including our own destruction (see Hosea 4.6). Second, maintain a love for the truth. Paul wrote, “…and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thess. 2.10-12). God wants all to be saved, but since He has limited Himself in the realm of an individual’s will, He will allow those who choose to believe a lie to be deceived. He will give them up to practice all kinds of wickedness because they first gave Him up in their unbelief and hatred for the truth (cf. Rom. 1.18-32). Finally, we must pay attention to ourselves so as to not ever fall into Satan’s snares. Paul said, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 11.12) and “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim. 4.16). God has given us the power necessary to not be deceived, but we must always seek His will, love the truth, and continually pay attention to ourselves.
It has been said that “sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Scripturally, this is the way Satan and sin works. BG
