Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Sabbath, October 18, 2014
Based Upon Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
As Jesus sat with His disciples teaching on the Mount of Olives, they came and asked Him when the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem would be, and what would signify the end of the world. The first thing Jesus said was, “Be not deceived.” Let’s talk about that. Why would Jesus immediately speak of deception?
There are so many lies that people believe concerning the end of the world. Deception runs rampant like a disease of epidemic proportions. Some believe that we all will die eventually, because the earth will be depleted of its life-supporting resources. Others believe that Jesus is not coming at all; and that this is all just a myth. There have been people in every age claiming to be Christ, and distorting the truth about the way Jesus will return, which also perpetuates the deceptions of the enemy. Jesus understood fully that one of the major signs of the times would be widespread deception. Paul reiterated this truth in one of his letters to the Thessalonians. “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12.
What are some of the ways to be insulated against deception in the last days? We must pray regularly, ask God for an open heart as we study His word, ask the Lord for the Holy Spirit who gives wisdom, and share our testimony with others. The Lord is ready and willing to reveal Himself to us if we would simply press Him to do so without wavering. It is as the Lord does this, that we fall in love with truth, and deceptions will have no lasting effect upon us.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8.
