I don’t want to be deceived! …and I don’t imagine that there is anyone who does. The tricky thing about deception, though, is that anyone who is deceived doesn’t know it. There’s a confidence that it happens to other people, but it “won’t happen to me!” We’re too smart, know too much, not that simple or naïve… We just don’t believe it could happen to us.

I consider myself pretty smart and pretty savvy to the crazy cons that are being pulled nowadays. Of course, I got here by falling for some scams and losing quite a bit of money. And I believed a religious “scam”, if you will, for a long time. I call it a scam, because any deception of the enemy is a scam to steal our faith, our peace, our hope in the Messiah, and our testimony of His grace.

The thing is, deception is growing as we get closer to “catch up” point with Jesus. (I use “catch up” because some folks don’t like the word “rapture”—although 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says, “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” –you might check the various translations of harpazo which here is translated “caught up”.)

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars who consciences are seared….” (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12-13)

I had the impression that they way to avoid deception was to stay in the word, reading the word, listening to the word, studying the Bible. I’ve altered my opinion just a bit when I read James 1:22:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

That should be obvious; however, I’ve heard people twist and mangle scripture to try to make it say what they want it to say, to justify sin. I’ve also heard people grasp onto that verse and run straight into the arms of legalism.

Remember the scriptures when Jesus was tempted by satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13)? Satan used scriptures, yet he didn’t love God, didn’t want to obey him—and doesn’t want anyone else to, either. The devil knows scripture and how to manipulate it for his purposes—that is one tactic that he hasn’t changed.

Legalism is deceptive, too; it doesn’t make you a better person, though—only Christ living in you through the Holy Spirit can do that. The apostle Paul addressed the issue with the Galatian church:

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? ….” (Galatians 3:1-3)

The Bible tells us of some other ways people can be deceived:

Pride in their intelligence or wisdom…

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God….” (1 Corinthian 3:18, 19)

Thinking they are “good people” apart from the righteousness of God:

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:7-8)

Sin is deceptive!

“For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.” (Romans 7:11)

“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, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”  (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)

Wealth can be deceptive:

“…As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)

Another couple of avenues of deception:

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8)

And…

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

We are cautioned several times by the apostle Paul and James, the half-brother of Jesus, “Do not be deceived!” …which means it is in our power to resist deception; and the best way to do that is to know Word, and to be filled with the Word-giver, the one who spoke the scriptures to chosen men of God…

“…knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)

“…from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:15-16)

The sky’s the limit to the direction the enemy wants to take deception—he knows our vulnerabilities and uses them tactfully. He still uses the line, “Did God actually say…?”

For instance, the Creator of life does not intend for us to “love our neighbor” by killing babies. The enemy has twisted (and used people and politicians in doing so) our understanding of love. Showing compassion does not mean encouraging someone to violate the principles and judgments of our righteous God. Human beings are not smarter, wiser, more loving, or more compassionate than our heavenly Father.

Peter gives us some sage advice as we face increasing deception:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” (1 Peter 5:6-9)