I enjoy a good magic trick. The magician can fool us with a sleight of hand. He makes us think we have seen something that in fact did not happen.
Today is April Fool’s Day. This is a day usually associated with practical jokes and attempts to fool someone. I have several April Fools memories for which I am fond. One such incident occurred when I was about 10 years old. While crossing a railroad track I shouted “train” with all the vigor I could muster from the backseat of the car. After nearly wrecking to get across the tracks my father was not amused when I proudly announced “April Fools.” Indeed, he was plenty mad and I feared physical injury that day. I still think about the train story each first day of April.
Perhaps we have all been a victim to deception at some point. The April Fools deception is usually done in fun. However, today I would like to consider deception of a very serious nature. The Bible has a clear warning against allowing ourselves to be deceived.
The statement, “Do not be deceived,” appears four times in Scripture.
Note the following 4 Scriptures that contain the warning, “Do not be deceived.”
1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of GOD? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of GOD.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived; “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, GOD is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
James 1:14-16 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
There are powerful lessons to be learned from each of the four passages. The following truths come in order from the four texts listed above.
- The unrighteous will have no place in heaven.
- The wrong friendships will negatively impact us.
- There is a law of sowing and reaping concerning our actions in this life.
- There is a progression of sin that begins with desire and ends in death.
Each of these teach us important lessons and would make a profitable study individually. But I would like to observe a general truth common to all four. The common thread is deception. Do not be deceived. In each case it is apparent we are being warned not to be deceived. There is something deceptive about each situation.
So what is the deception? What is it that puts us in danger of being led away? Could it be a mindset of thinking sin will have no effect on me? Maybe I deceive myself when I think it won’t happen to me.
Consider the common deceptive thread of the unrighteous and the kingdom of GOD, or consider the effect of wrong friendships or influences, or consider the deceptive thinking that consequences of sinful choices won’t happen this time, and lastly, the progression of sin. We can so easily be caught up in the moment and end up succumbing to the deception.
Sometimes our mindset is that we can be strong. It won’t affect us. Yet, we have been warned. Do not be deceived. Be very aware!!
Again, noting the four passages in order, we state the following truths.
- A sinful lifestyle will lead to eternal punishment.
- A sinful friendship will lead us astray.
- A sinful act will bring a harvest.
- A sinful action began with an uncontrolled desire of the heart.
If we think otherwise, we have already been deceived. LORD, help me to “Be not deceived.”