Have you ever been deceived? How did that make you feel? Were you joyful or happy about being lied to? Did you feel valued or important, that you really mattered? Being deceived probably left you feeling sad, lonely, and devalued. The only way you can determine if you have been deceived is by knowing the truth. If someone has deceived you, they have hidden the truth from you, most likely for their benefit.
There is one who deceives that is only concerned about our
destruction, the devil. His main purpose is to feed us lies so people do not know
or hold to the truth concerning life. His deception regarding life is multifaceted.
He wants us to believe that life is what you make of it on this earth. To focus
on money, power, prestige and success are part of his deception. He can also be
successful in his deception negatively by making us believe that we are no
good, we have no purpose, and we have nothing to live for.
1 John 5:6-12 gives us the antithesis to the deception, that
is fed to us from the devil, and that is the truth. “And the Spirit is the
one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.” (v.6b) When the truth
is spoken, it is freeing, it brings safety, it brings security, it brings LIFE!
God’s truth tells us that our life is valuable, our life has purpose, our life
can be full of joy, and that our life in him is for eternity. Without God, man
can only see life in a temporal, self-satisfying perspective. But the truth of
God tells us “that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever
has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
(v.11-12) If we will grasp the understanding that the eternal life that God
has given to us begins NOW then our perspective for how we approach each day
will change. We should daily, moment by moment, rely on the Spirit of God to
reveal the truth in every situation of life. We should allow the truth of God’s
Word to permeate all corners of our life, so we are not deceived by the devil
and his schemes. We should hold to the truth that God walks with us and will
never leave us, no matter what situation we face. We should remember that he
loves us, values us, and has a purpose for us. These, and many more, are the
truths of life found in Christ.
What are areas of your life where you are being deceived?
Are you believing that life is built around success, possessions,
or pleasure? How can you refocus on how God would have you live your life with
an eternal focus?
Are you believing the deception that you do not matter, you don’t
have a purpose, or that your life is not important? Then look to the TRUTH that
God loves you and has a purpose for you even when circumstances and deceptions
make you feel otherwise.
Pray! Ask God for HIS direction, HIS peace, His purpose!
Look to HIS truth in scripture and the confirmation of HIS spirit to lead each
day of your life. If you have given your heart to God, asked Him to forgive you
of your sin and for Him to take control of your life, eternal life has already
begun for you. When you made that decision, a new life began that will never
end. You will leave this earth and continue life in Christ in heaven. Don’t wait,
thinking that the blessings of eternal life only begin when you leave this
earth. Life in Christ is peace, hope, purpose, and filled with blessing. Listen
to the TRUTH about life today!
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