Safeguarding Against Deception
Safeguarding Against Deception
Safeguards are precautionary measures that defend, protect, guard, and shield us from danger. We benefit from safeguards every day, often without even thinking about them. Safeguards are put in place for our protection and the protection of others. Failing to use the safeguards developed for our safety can lead to loss or injury.
Jesus warned us of the great deception that would define these last days. Deception by definition is the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. Words like deceit, cunning, and trickery would apply here. Warning labels are for safeguarding. If you were to attach a warning label for these last days, it would read, “Warning: great deception at hand.” In that case, we would be foolish to ignore the warnings from Christ. The outcome of the deception of our time is what Scripture calls apostasy, or a great falling away. Read the words of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian Christian’s. 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 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, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
The Word rebellion here has also been translated as apostasy, falling away, and departure. Deception will lead to a great falling away. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew chapter twenty four. Matthew 24:5 “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.” Matthew 24:10–11 “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.”
What are some ways that we can safeguard ourselves against the deception of these days? There are many, but I would like to offer five for your consideration. First, we must stay alert. Being watchful and alert is of utmost importance today. To be watchful is to be engaged, with attention that is focused, intentional, and present. Knowing that anyone is susceptible to deception should alarm us about the dangers of our day.
Secondly, study the scriptures. Since deception is the act of causing someone to believe as true what is false, we must be men and women who know the truth. God’s word is truth. Pick it up, take it in, live it out. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” As with all safeguards, they only benefit you if you use them.
Thirdly, apply God’s word, His truth, to your everyday living. There is a great danger today in the popularity of biblical academics. We have watched many men fall over the past few years who no doubt have a great knowledge of the Word of God. Knowledge without application is useless. Truth applied brings forth the appointed outcome of truth. Matthew 7:24–27 ““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””
Fourthly, cultivate a faithful prayer life. Prayer is one of the most powerful actions in the universe, for it moves the mighty hand of God, shaking both the spiritual and physical dimensions. 1 John 5:14–15 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
Lastly, stay rooted in a Christian community. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Scripture calls those who are in Christ, the ekklesia, the called-out people of God, set apart as sacred and different from those who are yet living in darkness. The truth is, we are each a part of the whole. We need one another in the body of Christ. Traveling as a lone wolf is dangerous. Christ intended that we walk this journey with Him, and with those who are called by the name of Christ. Hope these five things will be beneficial to you as you live for the Glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Pastor John
Safeguards are precautionary measures that defend, protect, guard, and shield us from danger. We benefit from safeguards every day, often without even thinking about them. Safeguards are put in place for our protection and the protection of others. Failing to use the safeguards developed for our safety can lead to loss or injury.
Jesus warned us of the great deception that would define these last days. Deception by definition is the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. Words like deceit, cunning, and trickery would apply here. Warning labels are for safeguarding. If you were to attach a warning label for these last days, it would read, “Warning: great deception at hand.” In that case, we would be foolish to ignore the warnings from Christ. The outcome of the deception of our time is what Scripture calls apostasy, or a great falling away. Read the words of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian Christian’s. 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 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, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
The Word rebellion here has also been translated as apostasy, falling away, and departure. Deception will lead to a great falling away. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew chapter twenty four. Matthew 24:5 “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.” Matthew 24:10–11 “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.”
What are some ways that we can safeguard ourselves against the deception of these days? There are many, but I would like to offer five for your consideration. First, we must stay alert. Being watchful and alert is of utmost importance today. To be watchful is to be engaged, with attention that is focused, intentional, and present. Knowing that anyone is susceptible to deception should alarm us about the dangers of our day.
Secondly, study the scriptures. Since deception is the act of causing someone to believe as true what is false, we must be men and women who know the truth. God’s word is truth. Pick it up, take it in, live it out. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” As with all safeguards, they only benefit you if you use them.
Thirdly, apply God’s word, His truth, to your everyday living. There is a great danger today in the popularity of biblical academics. We have watched many men fall over the past few years who no doubt have a great knowledge of the Word of God. Knowledge without application is useless. Truth applied brings forth the appointed outcome of truth. Matthew 7:24–27 ““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””
Fourthly, cultivate a faithful prayer life. Prayer is one of the most powerful actions in the universe, for it moves the mighty hand of God, shaking both the spiritual and physical dimensions. 1 John 5:14–15 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
Lastly, stay rooted in a Christian community. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Scripture calls those who are in Christ, the ekklesia, the called-out people of God, set apart as sacred and different from those who are yet living in darkness. The truth is, we are each a part of the whole. We need one another in the body of Christ. Traveling as a lone wolf is dangerous. Christ intended that we walk this journey with Him, and with those who are called by the name of Christ. Hope these five things will be beneficial to you as you live for the Glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Pastor John
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