In the world that seems increasingly chaotic, it’s crucial that true followers of God stay grounded in truth. The Bible warns us about a time when many will stop having faith, and led a stray, by false teachings and deceit.
How can we recognize these dangers and remain steadfast in our beliefs?
There is a set of truths we must live by and can devote ourselves to. It shapes how we live, and who we become. If we bleed, the all humans are made in the image of God, it profoundly affects how we treat others, view the sanctity of life, and engage with the world around us. Our beliefs have real world consequences.
Scripture gives us a sobering picture of the “last days” a time marked by spiritual deception and moral decline. Jesus Himself warned that many would be led astray by false prophets and false Christs. He spoke of a time when “the love of many will go cold” in Matthew 24:12, due to increased lawlessness. And we are seeing this trend right before our eyes.
In 2 Peter 3:15-16, Peter cautioned about false teachers who would secretly bring in destructive heresies, and even deny the Master who bought them. He highlighted their motivations, greed, sensuality, and a desire for power. And there were many more that echoed Jesus.
We must remember that God’s timeline is nothing like ours. However, there is a sense today that things are intensifying and I believe this will continue until the time of Jesus’s return. There is a period of increased deception and spiritual rebellion.
In 2 Thessalonians Paul writes about a “great falling away” or apostasy that must happen before the Day of the Lord (Jesus returns).
We must navigate the times we are in. We can avoid being swept away by false reaching or being swept away by our own desires.
There are things we can do so we won’t be deceived:
- Know the truth, immerse yourself in the Word of God. Familiarize yourself. The better you know the truth, the easier it will be to spot counterfeits.
- Be watchful, Jesus repeatedly urged His disciples to “watch and pray” Stay alert to the spiritual climate around you, and don’t be lulled into being complacent.
- Guard your heart. Examine your motivations. Are you drawn to teachings that simply make you feel fuzzy inside or cater to your desires? True Bible teachings often challenge us and call for us to deny ourselves
- Stay connected. We need support and accountability from other believers. Don’t isolate yourself from the body of the church, even if it’s imperfect.
- Test everything. We must examine the scriptures daily to see if someone or something is true. A good rule of thumb is to question everything. If it doesn’t align with the Word of God, you’re probably being deceived. Learn to discern the Spirits.
- Cling to Jesus. Ultimately our protection comes from a vibrant relationship with Jesus. Stay close to Him through prayer, worship, and obedience.
The reality of spiritual deception should not paralyze us with fear. Instead, it should motivate us to grow deeper in our faith and shine as lights in an increasingly dark world.
Remember,
“Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world” -1 John 4:4
From Pity to Praise 