DOMINION OVER DARTS OF DECEPTION (2)

“And Jesus answered and said to them, “Take heed that no man DECEIVE you” – Matthew 24:4

Believers must learn to exercise DOMINION over DARTS of DECEPTION: “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Take heed that no man DECEIVE you” (Mt.24:4). Our Lord Jesus was asked crucial questions by his disciples, among which was the sign of His coming and end of the age (v.3). He revealed the prime sign as the prevalence of DECEPTION on earth, warning that we must be on guard that we are not deceived. We must understand what to look for in order not to be deceived. He further warned that many would come supposedly claiming to be Him or have a word from Him: “And MANY false prophets shall rise, and shall DECEIVE MANY” (v.11). With so many voices vying for our attention, it can be challenging for anyone to sort truth from fiction and falsehood!

The first deceiver was Satan who deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden, persuading her to take and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. First, Satan questioned God’s word (Gen 3:1). Then, he deceived Eve about the true consequences of her disobedience (Gen 3:5). Sadly, Eve was deceived but Adam went into it with his eyes wide open: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression” (1 Tim 2:14). The Devil has become a more sophisticated deceiver; he now imitates Bible teachers, pastors, and even Christian writers. He hates the truth but loves deception and stands behind some pulpits today, and this is “No wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2Cor.11:14). Satan tries to deceive us about God’s Word, hitting at our beliefs. But, it is this same Word that builds our faith and becomes Satan’s waterloo (Rom.10:17).

Second Peter 2 is all about false prophets and teachers “who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (2Pet.2:1b). Unfortunately, “MANY will follow their destructive ways” as they exploit God’s flock “by covetousness” and “deceptive words” (v.3). Peter describes their depravity and how with great duplicity, they are “spots and blemishes, carousing in their own DECEPTIONS while they feast” with the flock (vv.12-13). “They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children” (v.14). Like Satan, those who bring false teachings are deceivers whose end would be destruction!

The dart of deception can make things look worse than they are, which affects our attitude, or make things look better than they are – temptation. Deception makes bad things look good, wrong things look right, good things look bad, and dangerous things look safe. Deception as a heart matter, can also manifest in the form of double-faced folks who say good things to our face but gossip about us behind our back: “When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his HEART; though his hatred is covered by DECEIT, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly” (Pro.26: 25-26). People who are deceitful can’t usually be trusted when they speak graciously about us or someone we know to their face because the hatred is covered by deception and in time or ultimately, in eternity, the wickedness will be exposed. Everything hidden in this life will be revealed after (Rev.20: 12-15).

We are consistently warned in the Scriptures against the dangers of deception. It is rife in the end times and also in our day-to-day lives. We must give attention to the reality of this dart if it is not to sneak up on us and overtake us naively. The very definition of deception means that those who are deceived do not know or believe they are deceived. It‘s important for believers to be on guard against this dart and diligently seek after the truth in God’s Word. It is so easy to deceive ourselves, but such can be avoided when we abide in the Word daily. The best way to discern truth from error is to be devoted to the study of truth as found in the Holy Bible.