You live in a world of deception. The Lord declared this through Jeremiah (9:6) about 600 years before Christ. But we could state it at any point in time since creation. The scope of the biblical topic of deception is significant. It began in the Garden of Eden, is found throughout Scripture, and will continue until the end when Satan, the deceiver, is thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev 20:10). Jesus taught about it 19 times and directly warned His disciples and those who would live in the last days. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matt 24:24 NET). Just these observations show the vital importance of understanding all we can learn about deception.
The translations of the original word in various versions give insight into its meaning—led astray, misguide, mislead, stray, fraud, tricked. We define deception as making a statement, carrying out an act, or using some device to mislead. It tricks someone into believing something that is not true. The root word actually means ‘bait’. Deception always has a bait. My title ‘He’ Tricked Me! is Eve’s answer when God asked her, “What is this you have done?” She replied, “The serpent tricked—deceived—me” (Gen 3:13). The bait Satan used was the fruit from the one tree they could not eat. His deception came through a lie. “You surely will not die! . . . your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God (vv 4, 5). After this occasion, the Old Testament referred to deception 49 more times.
During this study, I listed over 30 verses that warn of things that can deceive us. The major of them come about through people. Here are just a few: false prophets, false messiahs, bad company, evil men, religious leaders, and impostors. Other sources of deception are the desire for wealth and riches, great signs and wonders, traditions of men, and empty words. Paul warned of people who by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people (Rom 16:18). He instructs the church avoid them (v17)! Every method employed by deceivers comes by subtlety. Satan, the people, and the means he uses doesn’t, come with a warning label: “Be warned, I’m here to deceive you.”
The most important truth we must understand is everything mentioned above is merely the means and not the root cause. Deception begins with ‘me’. The most effective deceiver is ourselves. The human mind (heart) is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. Who can understand it? (Jer 17:9 HCSB). The first mistake people make is thinking they can’t be deceived. The reality is they are already deceived and, worse, don’t even know it. King David learned how deceitful and incurably bad his heart was. The lust of his eyes deceived him when he watched the very beautiful Bathsheba bathing from his roof. His flesh lusted; he sent for her and committed adultery. After learning she was pregnant, his pride caused him to have her husband killed being deceived this would hide his sin.
This leaves us with the question, how do we avoid deception if our hearts are so deceitful and incurably bad? David knew the answer was God’s help. He prayed, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Ps 51:10). Paul addresses this: You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your mind (heart), and to put on the new man (Eph 4: 22-24 NET). God promised through Ezekiel, Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you (36:26, 27). The Holy Spirit gives us power, wisdom, and the gift of discernment.
The Sadducees tried testing Jesus about marriage in heaven. Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you deceived for this reason because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God (Mark 12:24 NET)? The Word of God overcomes all deception. After Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness fasting, he was hungry (Matt 4:2). The Devil took advantage of this in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread”. Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth” (v3 MSG). Knowing the Word saved Jesus from this deception.
A deceptive world surrounds us in every aspect—secular and Christian. John instructed us, My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world (1Jn 4:1 MSG). My grandmother always told us, “Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear. I’ve modified that for today’s world. Don’t believe anything you hear or anything you see, especially if it comes through the media. Don’t be shy about checking things out.
Sustaining Word for the Week: If the whole church goes off into deception, that will in no way excuse us for not following Christ. (Leonard Ravenhill)