We Are So Easily Deceived

1 Tim. 4:1 - 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.
Colossians 2:8 - See to it that no one takes you captive by philosopy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits/principles of this world, and not according to Christ.
Acts 13:10 - "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?"
Daniel 8:25 - By his coming, he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. . . .
Rev. 12:9 - And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient sperpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world - he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

"Deceit" = the act of intentionally giving a false impression; a false representation made with the intent to induce reliance by the other party; misrepresentation. (Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Ed.)

If I were to sell you a house and tell you that all of your best dreams will come true in this house. You will be blessed here and have joy here and be satisfied every day of your life. You believe me and buy the house because of those representations. You then learn that the house is a money pit, a place of misery and heartache and problems that can never be fixed; it is a repository of hopes that are never fulfilled; but that you cannot escape, you are stuck in this mess and there is no way out. That is deceit and you were a fool to believe the lies.

In various ways, we all succomb to deceit in our lives. We believe lies. We are so gullible. We crash and burn because we are hoping for saisfying pleasure and beauty and riches. We believe the ads. We think life will go on forever and get better and better if we buy or do certain things. Instead, we get the worst that the world has to offer instead. And then we fail to admit our guilt and stupidity and buy into worse lies and go deeper into despair. Why is it that the life expectancy of a Hollywood or music industry star seems so short? The lies of that lifestyle take their toll on bodies and souls very quickly.

I recently read of Miley Cyrus, the young singer who used to boldy give praise to "my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." She has earned hundreds of millions of dollars in her short life. Miley is now caught up in the wrong crowd, following the lusts and passions of the world. She recently took a stand for homosexual love. As I read that, I realized that she is another in a long line of victims of the Deceiver, taken "captive by [the] philosophy and empty deceit" of this world.

That reminded me of C.S. Lewis' masterful book, The Screwtape Letters, in which he attempts to show how the entire enterprise of Satan and his demons revolves around deceit. Of course, the deceit started in the Garden of Eden, where Satan's lies caused Adam and Eve to doubt God and give in to the only temptation in their lives - the forbidden fruit in a garden full of other fruit. There was so much joy in the garden, but they wanted the only thing they could not have.

There is a war going on in this world. There is a Deceiver on the loose and he is more deceitful than you think. You cannot play hide and seek with him, or cut any deals with him or give in to him in any way without becoming another captive to his lies. Once he successfully deceives, then he accuses. The deceit and accusations go hand in hand until he destroys or renders you useless. You become another statistic apart from the intervention of God; apart from surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God's Word; apart from confession and repentance; apart from the ransoming and redeption that only Jesus Christ can offer.

Jesus asks His followers to abide in Him for good reason.
*** In Christ, we are free from condemnation.
*** In Christ, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
*** In Christ, He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.
*** In Christ, we have the wisdom and discernment and courage to stand for God's truth and reject the deceit.
*** Only in Christ is there lasting joy that transcends your circumstances.

*** You can abide in Christ by time in His Word every day before deceit can claim your mind and heart for the day.
*** You can abide with Christ by surrendering yourself to Christ each day in prayer, asking Him to guard and protect you and enable you to walk in the joy and victory of His presence in you.
*** You can abide in Christ by being a man or woman of praise, expressing thanksgiving and gratitude to your Lord at all times, under all circumstances.
*** You can abide in Christ by consistent fellowship with others who are wholeheartedly seeking to abide in Christ.

Jesus came that you might have life and have it abundantly, that your joy would be full and overflowing! He has given you everything that you need for life and godliness in this world! Belief that! Live it!