Do Not Be Deceived

“Do not be deceived.” Does that sound familiar? It probably does; but, let us remind ourselves.

I grew up in Idaho. I had a very loving family and good friends. I was in a religion that taught Jesus, the Bible, loving God and loving each other. It was a safe and very comfortable place. They taught I could get to heaven if I worked hard enough. They also taught that I had to be a member of that church to get to heaven. Well, I felt very privileged to be on the right track to go to heaven with my family and friends. Satan is a good deceiver. He makes the false look true and plays to our fleshly self.

As I arrived at my teen years I had doubts. The Bible taught differently from what my religion taught me. My church leaders and family told me “not to worry, the Bible was translated wrong.” Then I questioned myself. As I looked around everyone was content and not questioning.

I married, had children, and tried to find my faith. I knew I was living a lie; but, I was in pretty deep with a husband and children. So I endured. One Sunday morning I stood up and announced to my family I was not ever going to church again. “Wow where did that come from,” I silently ask myself. I had wanted to speak those words for 20 years.

Do not fall for Satan’s lies that look so good. Today, more than when I was a child, the world is growing up with many choices that look like Jesus.

Satan wants to deceive the world.

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7).

“. . . Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Jesus Christ warned that many would take His name and claim to represent Him; but, those same people would be deceivers. They would claim to be Christian; but, they would bring a different message, and a counterfeit Christianity.

Repressive religious authority kept me in fear. But, God had His perfect moment in time five years ago when I fell into the precious arms of Jesus.

Be aware. Listen to the Word of God. Be warned!