Complimentary Story
November/December 2024The disciples were calling Jesus’ attention to the beauty of the temple In Jerusalem. Jesus informed them that the time was coming when not one stone will be left upon another. (That happened when Jerusalem was destroyed forty years later).
So the disciples asked three questions: When shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world? Read Matthew 24:1-3. Jesus began His answer with this: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” He then proceeds to inform them of the destruction of Jerusalem, and also of the end times. Read Matthew 24 to get the full message. What about this warning against deception?
Humanity, since near the beginning, has the nature of Satan. Jesus warned us that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. See John 8:44. Humans have the natural capacity to lie about anything. We are hypocrites by nature, until we experience the New Birth. Then, truth becomes important and precious to us. We love God and His truth. It is His truth that continually blesses our lives.
The honesty of the Christian community calls others to the same. It used to be at one point in the past, “a man’s word was his bond.” You could trust most people to be honest.
In my lifetime, I have witnessed a great change. We have three generations educated without any consideration of God and truth. Lying is no big deal anymore and you have reasons to question the honesty of many things you hear. We are continually bombarded with phone calls loaded with lies to deceive us. In the last year, an atmosphere of fear has been created. Who is telling us truth?
Jesus Christ is all about truth. He warned us to be alert to deceivers. In Revelation 20:7-8, we are told this about Satan, “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and he shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth.”
Read the context. Satan’s work was greatly limited after Jesus died and arose from the dead. His head was greatly bruised. The context of the verses above say he was bound for a thousand years. After that long period of time, he is loosed from his prison.
Think of the deception that came upon the world with the teaching of evolution. Think of the deception of communism. There have always been religious deceptions. God is somewhat recognized even in religious deception, so there is a degree of restraint on conduct. But when Satan was loosed out of his prison and released, ideas that completely puts God out of people’s thinking, you have the most diabolical deception possible! What we are seeing on the whole world scene today is deception to the greatest possible degree.
Without God in the thoughts of many, you have a paralyzing fear permeating the whole atmosphere. You see and hear of irrational conduct all over the earth. It is good reason for us to “take heed that no man deceive you.” It is a time when the media, with all its instruments, captivates the mind of the masses. Deception is at an all-time high. If you want to avoid deception, you will need to shut out the mass media, go to a quiet place with your Bible and read the story of Jesus and believe what He taught us. It is the Good News. It is the true truth. It is refreshing in every word.
Satan, the deceiver is loosed out of his prison and he has poisoned the thought stream of nearly all that is available today. Thank God you can still get Bibles that carry the powerful truth that God uses to bless hearts and lives of people today.
There is a very strong pressure to conform our lives to the fear mongers that are present everywhere. We will need to suffer much ridicule and persecution if we are going to live our lives by God’s truth and ignore the political pressures, the religious pressures, and the media pressure. We will be called by many derogatory names and labeled and shamed in every way possible. Jesus said, “Ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth unto the end shall be saved.” Jesus is worthy of our complete trust! We can follow Him even if it brings death. The Christian’s death is the gateway to Glory.
The devil will do his evil work until Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven. It is important for Christians to see the movements of God in these times. Satan has his diabolical work that captivates the minds of the masses. In the midst of all this, Jesus has His kingdom. It is important for Christians to see this and live rejoicing in His power.
“Take heed that no man deceive you!”
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