01/03/2024
Living In the Daze of Deception
How To Discern Truth from Culture’s Lies
Recognizing The Many Kinds of Deception.
In the same manner as fog acts as camouflage, deception obscures what is in front of us by blurring and concealing it. The way we navigate it safely requires us to employ the same precautions as drivers - heed flashing lights or warning signs ahead or, in this case, Bible truth. In a daze, one is incapacitated, bewildered, or numb, incapable of thinking or reacting correctly to deception. It is also said to stupefy, shock, confound, and distract. Recent events and the increase in sinister changes are reflected in these words. More than ever before, people are showing an extraordinary lack of judgment and an inability to think or act appropriately when it comes to their beliefs and lifestyles.
What is causing this?
Why is this different than ever before?
Pastor Hibbs' outline of how deception affects our world and how we, as followers of Jesus, can respond effectively to it will serve as our guide. Pray daily for understanding of how God's strong hand will steer us to hope, clarity, and direction in a confused and dazed world.
Caught off Guard.
The media has spread an incredible amount of false reporting, deceptive misinformation, and fake news in recent years. Most of us who watch news on TV, use the internet, or use social media realize what is said conflicts with what we know to be true. Truth seems elusive. The act of putting one's left hand on the Bible, raising one's right hand, and swearing under oath in a court of law doesn’t always guarantee the truth is being spoken. The task of discovering the truth has become almost impossible, leaving us unsure of what to believe.
We must consider what is being concealed by powerful elites, organizations, and governing authorities as today’s “Trojan horse.” The unexplainable level of secrecy tied to their deceptive views is astounding and grows exponentially every day. These people and groups often consider you their enemy and it is important to understand that wicked schemes, whether large or small, are subtly hidden in an element of truth – making them more dangerous and difficult to spot.
There’s no denying the world has always held deception – Satan has dressed lies and sin into an appetizing package since the Garden of Eden. But over the past decade, the uptick in boldness and the effort to control behavior by the devil’s minions (elitists, government, technocratic modern-day rulers) has reached epic proportions. Reflect on the freedoms we relinquished during COVID as political powerbrokers and biotechnology corporations changed behaviors and advanced their agendas just by the control of information:
1. Travel restrictions,
2. Schools and employment conducted virtually,
3. Businesses closed,
4. Church attendance mandated by government,
5. Mandatory inoculations with an experimental technology approved by our government faster than any legislation approval in history, and,
6. Emergency funds (stimulus checks, burial assistance, unemployment, small business loans) provided to citizens, regardless of whether requested or wanted.
In addition to the pandemic, the world witnessed irrational and unstable thinking when it came to things like gender identity, marriage, the sanctity of life, and the rule of law. In the United States, questions have arisen whether we need national borders or should keep our Constitution. Patriots have rolled over in their graves in the past few years!
In conclusion of this section, the question is asked, “What does all this mean?”
1. Deception is continually at work through the conversations, thoughts, and actions of those who reject the very concept of God from their belief system.
2. We cannot dismiss deception as taking place only in the media or the social and political realms.
3. Jesus warned there would be tremendous spiritual deception in the last days before His physical return to earth.
(Hibbs, 2024)
Scripture Reading.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1 NKJV
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be truly opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” – Genesis 3: 4 – 5 NKJV
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. – Romans 16: 17-20 NKJV
