Don't Be Deceived

     Magic shows are fun to watch, but we know from the start that there is some sleight of hand or movement undetected by the audience that makes it seem real.  Perhaps we enjoy being fooled.  However, when it comes to our walk with Christ, we are warned to be on our guard.  There are false teachers, philosophies, and "empty deceit" just waiting to snatch any listening ear....even Christian ears.

 

   This point is driven home as I watched "The Truth Project" for the sixth time on a Wednesday evening.  Del Tackett, the tour guide, in this wonderful teaching series pointed out that even Christians are capable of being deceived by the ideas promoted in our world.  He pointed to the letter Paul wrote to the Colossians (2:6-8):  "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."  Unfortunately, the Church at Colossae as well as in Galatia had been dealing with false teachings that pulled them away from the truth of the Apostle's instruction.  They lost sight of true doctrine.  This should not surprise us because from the beginning of the church until now there have been many strange teachings, philosophies, and ideas that have crept into the body of believers.  Instead of believers influencing the world, we are more often influenced by them and accept as truth something which God has not condoned. 

     Sources of disinformation abound today now that we have electronic devices which can connect us instantly to ideas, theories and philosophies which may have no basis in truth.  Even in Paul's day, word could travel quickly in a village simply by passing a story on.  Today, however, we have instant messages that travel the globe in a click of a button.  Instant information, though, does not equal godly wisdom.  According to Paul, we need to be careful to walk in Christ daily...that is...His Word of truth.  His teachings (doctrine) should be close to our heart so that we are not deceived when someone introduces a "new understanding" on an issue to the church.  If we are rooted and established in our faith following the Apostle's teaching, we will not be easily led astray.  

     Paul echoes his teaching of being prepared in his second letter to the Corinthians 10:3-5:  "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ...."  We are in a battle....a war of ideas in our present world.  Our fight is against arguments, opinions and ideas which try to distort God and His Word.  As Ephesians 6:12 tells us:  "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  This verse is more relevant today than ever.  We live in a time of spiritual confusion and darkness.  This is why we need to be prepared by putting on the full of armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18) and make certain that we take every thought captive to Christ.

     Knowing that it is possible for us to be deceived as we walk in this world should encourage us all to be students of the Word....both Old and New Testaments.  God's Word does not change nor can we pick and choose what we want to obey.  His truth sets us free and creates in us a new heart and mind in Christ.  Therefore we must make certain we are  "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith".  Don't let the enemy steal your joy or deceive you with worldly philosophies and ideas.  This world is passing away but God's Word will stand forever.  While magic can be fun to watch, we all need to live in the real world founded on the rock of Christ and the Bible.  With the Lord, there are no tricks but abundant life.  Selah!

The Joy of Obedience

     Growing up on a farm presented me with many opportunities for lots of outdoor activities.  Most of them were fun, harmless and good physical exercise (eg. riding my bicycle, playing in the sprinkler) but there were other activities that often led to disastrous results.  My mother warned me countless times not to run full speed without keeping track of where I was going.  Personally, I thought she was being a spoil sport, but one day, I fell against our stone steps outside which left a gash near my left eyebrow.  This called for a set of stitches which certainly "spoiled my sport"!!!!  However, I did not learn my lesson as I once again assaulted my left eye with another gash by running full speed to the stairway and tripped.  Once again, I was headed for stitches near my left eye.  By this time, most of you would think I had learned my lesson, but no,  ever the daredevil, I decided to jump on a roll away bed mattress.  The frame was metal and my mother called out to me that I should not be doing that because I could fall.  Unfortunately, no sooner had she said that, I took a tumble and hit the metal frame next to my left eye once more creating a gash.  This time, we had to fetch the doctor off of the golf course to come and put stitches in the area.  To this day, I have three scars near my left eye as a reminder that I didn't listen to my mother.  Oh the pain I could have avoided had I only regarded her instruction.  The same is true for Christians in our walk with the Lord. 

     Too often, people think that the commandments of the Lord and His instruction in the Bible are antiquated, out of touch with the way people really live today or are burdensome.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  God's Word is the very foundation of our faith and a manual for how we should live before Him.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away."  Luke 21:33 tells us the same thing.  What God has established as His moral standards in both the Old Testament and New Testament remain as the foundation for the Christian church and individual believers. Again Jesus stated clearly:  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;  I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).  Indeed, Jesus kept all the Law perfectly during His walk among us and then, offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to cover our sins.  Through Him, our sins are forgiven, we are set right with God, but we are called to, then,  live a holy life even as God is holy.  We do not have the option of doing away with "the Ten Commandments" or God's moral standards of conduct. These are given for our protection, our welfare and for God's glory in our dark culture.  When we choose to live in obedience to God, we have a joy that no one can steal from our hearts.

     King David in Psalm 19 declares the goodness of God's laws and standards.  Verses 7-11:  "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;  the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Obviously, David saw the value of following in the Lord's path.  In obedience, he found joy, but likewise, when he sinned with Bathsheba, he tasted the painful consequences that followed.

     While some in our current culture want to play fast and loose with God's precepts and moral commands, we need to remember the admonition given by the Lord in the book of Revelations that we are not to add or take away from the Word (Rev. 22:18-19).  This caution goes along with several others that warn us not to add or take away from God's Word:  Deut. 4:2; 12:32;  and Prov. 30:5-6.  Our Lord loved us so much that He gave us a foundation for living in the Bible.  Then, to further demonstrate His love, He gave us His Son to seal a new covenant with us in His blood.  Therefore, we must respond by living to His glory.

     If I had listened to my mother's instructions, I would not have three scars around my left eye.  She did her best to warn me.  In the same way, we are given God's Word that we might experience joy in obedience and the privilege of glorifying Him in this world.  May we never take the Bible for granted or allow the culture, false teachers, or others to dilute the Word of truth that is given to bring us salvation and eternal life.  Search His Word, examine your life and live in obedience to God that you may have the abundant life He promised to all who believe.  Selah!

P.S.  A great book to study in regards to the Ten Commandments is Alistair Begg's "The Pathway to Freedom".  It is well worth your time to read this.  

How We Live Says a Lot About Who We Are

     In concluding a recent Bible study with a friend, a verse came to my attention that really stood out.  It comes from Hebrews 4:13:  "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."  What a wake-up call this verse should be for us!  If God sees all my actions, knows all my thoughts and desires, then, how I live my life is of the utmost importance.  This requires some self-evaluation on our part since we are often the only Bible some people will ever see or hear.

     One of the first areas that comes to mind is our speech.  Do we build up others and encourage or do we spend time gossiping and tearing down?  Jesus said:  "It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person" (Matthew 15:11).  This is where we have to do a "mouth check" on a daily basis.  Do we take the Lord's name in vain, do we curse or use vulgar language?  If we do, what does this say about our walk with Christ?  We have a new heart, a new worldview when we become a believer. The old has passed away....or rather, it is supposed to pass away.  This is a part of our sanctification process.  I know that in my own life I am challenged in this area when I am driving.  I talk a good deal about others who are going too slow, cutting me off or going faster than they should on the road.  However, God has called me out on this because I am not a perfect driver either.  James puts it bluntly in his epistle:  "...but no human being can tame the tongue, It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be so" (James 5:8-10).  Since we cannot tame the tongue in our own strength, this is where we need the help of God's Holy Spirit.  Even when we stub our toe or hit our hand with a hammer, we need to watch what we say in response.  Not only are those around us listening, but more importantly, God hears us.  My daily prayer is:  "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight always, LORD, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).

     Another area that we need to examine is our thought life and our desires.  While we may not act out a murder or commit adultery overtly,  how we think about another person makes all the difference.   Do we wish someone would die so we can have our inheritance earlier?  Have we desired another man's wife or husband?  Even though, these are just thoughts and have not been acted upon, they are still sinful.  Jesus makes this clear in the Sermon on the Mount:  "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' (or Raca in Aramaic) will be liable to the hell of fire" (Matthew 5:22).  He goes on to talk about adultery as well:  "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).  This is one reason the Bible tells us to be renewed by the transforming of our minds.  When we become a Christian, we are a new creation.  As we read the Bible, pray and fellowship with other believers, our words, our thoughts and our actions should all be different than when we are walking in this world.  It certainly doesn't happen overnight.  However, if it doesn't happen at all, then, we need to take a step back and evaluate whether we are a Christian.

     Certainly, on this earth, we will never reach perfection and there will be missteps, but our lives should be producing fruit if we belong to Christ.  The distinction is clearly made in the letter to the Galatians 5:19-22:  "Now the works of the flesh are evident; sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these.  I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law."  Then Paul concludes this by saying in verse 25:  "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."  Indeed, this is what Christ has called us to do.

     People watch us every day and how we live before them speaks louder than words. Perhaps, this is a new thought for you as it has been for me.  I am reminded of the children's song "Be Careful Little Eyes What You See".  It goes on to mention ears, tongue, hands, feet, heart and mind.  Why should we be careful?  "For the Father up above is looking down in love...."  He is our audience of One who sees us and knows all our thoughts.  Let us live so we can be a light and salt to others here...not a hindrance.  This will glorify our Father in heaven.  Selah!