Deception’s dangers

Evil, wrong, false words, advice and thoughts con concerning behavior, habitual sin, or the second coming, false gods, the consequences of sin, and letting fatigue make me give up. This is the list of deception sources in today’s Bible verses. I can easily see how my experience proves they are definitely capable of deception, but may not have added the last one to the list.

Here are the verses: “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light . . .” (Ephesians 5:6–14)

The next passage says, “Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:7–10)

The one about the second coming says, “ . . . we ask you not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed . . .” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4)

The passage about consequences has both a warning and a promise. I feel tired today, but both are motivating me to keep my focus: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:7–10)

Yesterday was emotionally draining. I learned that a friend’s husband has been given two months to live. Also, some friends of ours are in grief because one of their friends is missing and presumed drowned. The situation in Iraq and other parts of the world becomes more dreadful each day. How do I pray for these things?

The spiritual enemy and liar does not want me to pray at all, or at least be deceived into praying at the ceiling. What I want for His people needs to line up with what God wants, and right now, praying the will of God is hard and fatiguing work. I do want to give up, but am exhorted to not be fooled. God hears and answers prayer. Do not give up doing this good thing.

I don’t know how God will answer, but He is telling me not to let this drained out fatigue deceive me into hopelessness. Keep on. Keep on praying.

The Light in my life

People with Seasonal Affected Disorder will not enjoy today. The skies are dull as they gently drizzle the first spring rain. Dry and dusty streets perk up and the yard eagerly drinks, but I’m turning on lights that would not be needed on normal days. 

SAD has never bothered me, but even if it did, there is another kind of darkness that is much worse, but a darkness from which I have also been delivered. This darkness is spiritual, a darkness describing as the condition of those who do not know or walk with Jesus Christ who declared Himself the Light of the world.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life… (John 8:12) I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)

I didn’t get out of this darkness myself, but I do remember the day it happened. I was sitting in my living room reading a book. This book had a verse from the Bible in it, and as I read that verse, the room seemed to be filled with light. At that moment, Jesus Christ came into my life. I know this is not the way everyone becomes a Christian, but for me, being turned from darkness to light was a vivid experience.

(God) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13) For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

At that moment, Christ delivered me from “darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” and I received “forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith” in Christ. (Acts 26:17–18) This powerful event showed me the reality of God’s power. Even as a candle in a dark room forces darkness to dissipate, the light of God drives the darkness of sin from the human heart. As John wrote, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) For me, this light changed my life forever.

Now, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I am responsible to walk in the light God has given me. Scripture associates lies from Satan and any sin in response to those lies as “the works of darkness” and tells me to not go there. Instead I am to expose all darkness with His light.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6–14)

I cannot be in right relationship to God and at the same time walk in darkness. However, since He has given me the Light of life in Jesus Christ, I am no longer overcome by darkness. What an amazing wonder that Jesus shines on me! This is a powerful truth, one that others need to hear.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5–7)

Just as SAD makes some people sad and depressed, darkness also robs people of joy and the freedom they could know by having light in their lives. This light is available, not by trying to turn it on ourselves, but by receiving it from God as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ, a gift God is eager to give to anyone who desires it.

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Lord, what joy You give to those who are in Your Light. Even on dull and dreary days or even in the midst of trials and struggles, You shine in my heart and give me glimpses of Your glory. That is all I need to remain joyful, no matter what might be going on in my world. Thank You. Thank You also for the rain and the promise that green grass, tulips, leaf buds and other new growth will soon follow.