The online Cambridge Dictionary defines “deceive” as: “To persuade someone that something false is true or to keep the truth hidden from someone for your own advantage.” Synonyms of deceit are dishonesty, hypocrisy and treachery. While antonyms of deceit are honesty, sincerity and truth.
Deception can come from many sources — what we read, find on the Internet or watch on TV, and even our friends. We have to be careful with whom we associate virtually as well as literally, so as not to allow Satan to gain a foothold. We should even be cautious of so-called experts. The Bible warns: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient (Ephesians 5:6). Truth matters. So, what can we do to avoid being deceived?
A wise approach is found in Acts 17:10-11. When the people of Berea received the word of God they wanted to be sure what they were being told was correct, so they checked the facts. This was not from the mindset of wanting to disprove the Apostle Paul, but to confirm, increase and strengthen their knowledge. They did this daily, with an eagerness to learn the truth of God. We should do the same to become well grounded in God’s Word, and develop a deeper relationship with our Creator.
Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy by persuading ourselves that something false is true. This can be easily done if we rely on human reasoning instead of the Word of God. God speaks to us through His Word, and we should avoid putting our own personal interpretation on what we read in the Bible. II Corinthains 3:5 exhorts Christians to “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”
God inspired the prophet Jeremiah to write, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). While the Apostle John explained, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). It is important that we examine ourselves in light of the Scriptures, constantly and consistently correcting our course. It is our responsibility to learn to rightly divide the Word of Truth and distinguish between truth and error. This requires a lifelong commitment to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
As outlined in the previous article Satan is the originator and primary source of deception. As the “prince of the power of the air” he has deceived the whole world (Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 12:9), by persuading people that something false is true. His intent is to destroy us, and we need to be on our guard against him at all times. Satan’s strategy is to mix truth and lies, so something may sound plausible, but is not the whole truth. James 4:7 instructs us: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”.
After drawing close to God in prayer and fasting Jesus resisted the temptations of the Devil by quoting the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-12). When the Devil tried to twist the meaning of certain scriptures to persuade Jesus to put God to the test, our Saviour used the word of God to repel him (Matthew 4:5-7).
Jesus Christ gave many warnings that deception and false teachings would increase before His return to the earth (Matthew 24:5-6, 11, 24). We are expected to study and prove what we learn so that we are not deceived, but grounded in truth. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Prove all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). “Prove” means to examine carefully what we are told or read in the light of the Holy Scriptures. God’s Word is the only standard that counts and we are expected not just to know what it teaches, but to act on it.
