Posted on February 22, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
“An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” Jeremiah 5:30-31 (NKJV)
At one point I really had myself believing that I was alright and all I had to do was to keep trudging along, and a light would be at the end of the tunnel. However, journeying along the Blue Route in Philly, one afternoon while visiting with my daughter, radically changed that. As I write to you, there’s a fancy technological battery-operated “gizmo” attached to my lower spine to possibly help relieve pain due to an old injury. This is a step that is being prayerfully considered, as the need for an Erector Set isn’t on the table…yet. But I have to confess to you all, I had myself pretty deceived into thinking that I had all this stuff under control.
Yeah, there’ve always been a considerable amount of back pain, and as time sets in, it’s a constant reminder of the folly of youth. However, I got a little stupid with the over-the-counter stuff. Realizing it now, that that was the first step into my self-deception. This led to a series of doctor visits and that has led me to understand one thing: I ain’t a doctor and I should stop playing one on T.V. or in any other sensible reality. Now, I’ll say this out loud so you don’t have to think it, as a Colony of Mercy Graduate, I should’ve known and done better. But I wasn’t alone as a Christian in those doctors’ offices, so I ain’t alone in the “shoulda known and done better” category. Guess we all preach a better sermon than we can live. “MAY THAT NOT BE!!” Hey, is that Paul over there? Anyway…
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1
The science behind being self-deceived pretty much works along the lines of the Roman aqueduct slope. Once we’ve gone 1 in 1,000 on our own account, our adversary, being both overt and covert in his ability to deceive us, can encourage us to hit that 3% mark that really gets the water moving. Pretty soon you’ve got yourself caught up with being good with the current, and before you know it… WHAM!! Then what? Maybe you’ll end up like a Laodicean, being in neither a hot nor cold current, only to be spewed out of the mouth of The Lord, kinda like King Solomon. And…
If there was ever a statement that could describe Solomon it’s that a double-minded person loses his grip. I’m guessing that in the middle of doing all kinds of good for God’s people, Solomon must have thought it was going to be okay with mingling with the woman of the surrounding kingdoms. “It’ll keep the peace” he must have thought. But God had some covenants and statutes that Solomon was well aware of. Because of Solomon’s self-deception, a servant named Jeroboam ends up with 10 pieces of fabric, and Solomon’s son, Rehoboam will watch as 10 tribes made the wrong place the high place and a kingdom was shredded into two. All because it got it’s rooting in self-deception.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8
We are specifically told that His thoughts aren’t our thoughts and His ways aren’t our ways. There’s much truth to that. Why? Because we can behave as if God is unreliable and that makes us know better about this small thing or that “Too Big For God” thing. Our reflex for self-preservation is an astounding thing and it comes into play when we think all we’re to do is to “keep the peace”. Well, Jesus doesn’t say “Blessed are the peacekeepers”, once again, His thoughts and ways aren’t ours, and it’ll be the peacemakers that’ll get that divine nod at the Bema Seat! Deal with it!
At the end of the day God is gonna make things clear. Whether we’re like Solomon and have to listen to God say, “Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and I will give it to your servant”. (1 Kings 11:11) Or you’re dressed in a hospital gown, laying on a table, waiting to find out if your heart is gonna be okay, only to hear the cardiologist say to you, “Why are you here? Nothing wrong with your heart. You’re just fat and outta shape. That’s why you take too much Aleve and your back hurts.” In either case, being self-deceived will be met with the real truth. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a child of El Elyon, a son, a husband, and a father. He has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy, 11/2003. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net.
Think About This: “It is only after we yield to Jesus Christ and begin to follow Him that we become concerned about the laxity and thoughtlessness of our lives. We begin to grieve about the way we have been living and we become convicted that there should continue to be aimlessness and futility and carelessness in our Christian walk.” – A.W. Tozer
The Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 2-3. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, ‘Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.’” Psalm 89:1-2
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
