Don’t Be Deceived

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Ephesians 4:14

It has been said that you learn more as a child than at any other point in your life. From the time that you are born until you are fully grown, you learn to walk, eat, talk, write, you learn much information in school, etc. During that time, a child’s mind is young and pliable, and can be taught many things, including some things that might not be good or true.

Something that I was taught as a young child was to not talk to strangers. As a child, your mind does not always “pick up” on things that an adult might. One specific example is the myth of “Santa Claus.” Millions of children all over the world believe that there is a man who travels the entire world in a night, bringing presents and gifts to those who have been good that year. But why do they believe this lie, this myth? Did they just come up with this information themselves? No, it was taught to them by someone that they put their trust in.

I was taught at a young age that this was all a completely made up story, so I knew the truth. But other children who I used to play with had believed this lie, and even when I tried to tell them that it was all fake, they would not believe me. They had been taught a lie, and wouldn’t believe the truth.

As children, you are not always wise enough to discern when someone is being genuine or truthful or not. I was always given the example of if someone pulled up to you in a car and told you that they would give you a bunch of candy if you got in with them to run away and yell as loud as you could. Because someone without this instruction might get into that car with them and might be harmed.

We need to be strong in the word of God, trained up so that we will know the truth from a lie. Through the scriptures, we know the truth of the creation of the world, and how God created the earth in six days, and rested on the seventh. We know that this is the truth, and that the “theory” that the world teaches is a complete lie.

We know that when someone teaches something that doesn’t agree with scripture, that we always take the word of God over the word of someone else. 

One of the best examples is what happened between the serpent and Eve in the garden of Eden. Eve knew that God had commanded them to not eat of the fruit of the tree, but the serpent “beguiled” Eve, and caused her to believe something that was not true. (Genesis 3:13) 

That is something that Paul wrote in Colossians to the church, warning them to beware of the philosophy and teachings of the world. 

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition fo men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Again, in Romans, Paul wrote a letter warning the brethren to make note of people who caused divisions in the church and taught things that were not in agreement with the things which they had learned.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18

We need to continually study God’s Word and build up our knowledge in it, so that we know truth from lies. When we hear something that doesn’t agree with the Bible, we will know it immediately. We won’t be swayed and turned away from the truth found inside, and we will stay firm in our faith.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

The Bible teaches that the devil is cunning and craft and will try to turn people away from God. In the end, someone will rise up, and proclaim that he is God. He will even perform miracles, and do everything that he can to try to convince the world, but it will be the anti-Christ. 

Because we know that every eye shall see Jesus in the air when He returns, that whoever proclaims themselves to be God, is not. We will not be deceived and made to believe that lie because we are strong in our faith, and know the truth found in the Bible.

Just as a parent teaches their child to not put their trust in strangers, we need to beware, and “try the spirits” as John wrote.

“Belove, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:…” 1 John 4:1

Stay strong in the Word, and don’t let anyone deceive you. Read your Bible as much as you can, and you will know the truth.

In Christ,

Andrew