This post is one of the entries from Jody’s upcoming book, “Come Follow Me,” a year-long devotional based on her popular video podcast of the same name, to be released in the fall of 2016 by Two Worlds Press.
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” ~ James 1:16
There are three significant strategies of the evil one that have impacted the people of God for multiple centuries. These strategies are so aligned with his wicked nature that his names correspond to each activity. Satan is the ‘accuser’, and we are usually aware when he is whispering a charge against us. He is also the ‘tempter, actively pursuing us with bait in hand. We tend to recognize both of these attempts to war against us. But with the third strategy, we are consistently oblivious to the manner of infiltration that the ‘deceiver’ has made in our lives. When you are accused, you know it. When you are tempted, you know it. When you are deceived, you don’t see it, or it wouldn’t be a deception. When we consider the topic of deception, we tend to focus on what comes out of our mouths, rather than what goes into our hearts. Our focus on deception has been on what goes out rather than what goes in; when we are lying rather than when we are being lied to.
If we acknowledge the potency of deception, we tend to regard it as an INFECTION. We know that it exists all around us, that we can be personally influenced, but that we can overcome. Just like germs can introduce a virus into our systems, we believe lies only last for a season and we can easily escape their snare. The reality is, that deception is much closer to something being IMBEDDED (cancer-like), and built into our very framework. Deception is designed to lurk like a hidden IED (improvised explosive device), and explode with devastating consequences, at an unforeseen moment.
Jesus came to us as The Way, The Truth, and the Life. He longs to lead us in these days by a narrow way that leads to Life.
Question: List three deceptions that are influencing the very foundation of our culture (these may not seem evil).