The Enemy in the Camp Part 7: Deception
Deception is, in its design, confusion, and therefore a lie. In fact, it is a premeditated lie with evil intent. In today’s society, it is common to glaze over the severity of wickedness in many avenues. We often employ euphemisms for deception—things like covering up, protecting oneself, and even twisting the truth for personal gain. The Scripture describes it differently. Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, 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.
It is very clear how God views deception and how serious the issue is in Heaven. When we begin to look further in the Scripture, we find other references to those who lie and deceive, and the motive behind this activity. John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
A common saying for many decades is, “Oh, what tangled webs we weave when we practice to deceive.” No one likes deception in any form yet it is commonly practiced by many. There are generally two types of deception practiced: someone is either covering up some unacceptable actions, or they attempt to gain by fabricating an image. Both of these are simply attempts to mask the truth or mask reality.
Today, we are seeing what I think is the absolute worst form of deception: the deception around false teaching of the Bible. There are many places that call themselves churches that are refusing to preach and teach the full Word of God. This is the devil’s deception in our places of worship.
In a twisted intention of including everyone, Satan has convinced many to take away from the Word by preaching and teaching only the feel good portions. Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
If anyone believes that shunning a portion of God’s Word is an act of compassion, they have been deceived in the worst possible way. Satan has appeared to them as an angel of light and convinced them that what they believe is a better way than what the Word of God teaches.
Just how much of the Scripture are these people willing to rip out of the Bible? Surely much of Genesis would have to go, all of the prophets would need to be removed, the story of Daniel, Numbers, Leviticus, any and all mentions of wars and conflicts, all of the book of Revelation, and much more would have to be ripped out of the Bible to leave only the feel good portions from which to preach.
You would end up with nothing more that a thin booklet that teaches nothing and contains little promise or consequence, if any. These places and people have indeed robbed God and have also made their brothers stumble.
The Scripture teaches such people should be avoided, Jude 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 3: 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
These feel-good places are those which have the appearance of godliness, but deny its power! They would rather teach and preach only the rescuing of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the deliverance of the Israelites, and the salvation of Christ, without teaching the fall of Babylon, the conquering of Israel, the deaths of Ananias and Saphira, the condemnation of sin, and the torment of Hell, or that God is a whole and complete God in His Holiness.
There is indeed a great price for sin whether or not people want to face it or want it to be. The evil of deception was introduced to man in the Garden of Eden and it has permeated the hearts of mankind ever since. Satan has deceived mankind so deeply that many prefer to shun truth rather than hear it.
Many people will hold to their desires before they will even lend an ear to truth; they will cast out the truth-sayer and prefer the soothsayer, and they would rather, just like Saul, seek the witch and forsake God. This is the level of deception we are living in.
Many refuse to believe it or even hear it—Satan and his evil underlings are everywhere! Most people would be very surprised at just how prevalent their presence is and where they are commonly found.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Deception never works for long. God will draw the darkness into the light of truth and the deceiver will find themselves far worse off than they ever conceived.
A common reality of deception is that there is generally much more hidden than the deceiver has led others to believe. They struggle to cover the surface issues while hoping to hide the depth of evil.
Deception is concealing truth and refusal of truth, and refusing truth is rejecting Christ. Jesus said He is the way, the Truth, and the Life. I understand many may question whether deception is rejecting Christ Jesus, but it is. It is also defying the Word of God, and therefore it is rejecting Jesus. John 1:1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. Jesus told the apostles that if they had seen Him they had seen the Father. Christ Jesus was the living embodiment of the Word here on Earth.
The purpose of deception is to cast doubt on the truth, and doubt opens the door to denial.
In closing, deception is an evil act. It is the way of Satan and those who practice deception are serving Satan; they are not walking in the truth of God’s Word!
“I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages.”
-Charles Spurgeon
Kenneth Kellar
A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple