“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” Isaiah 26:3
Deception: the act of making someone believe something that is not true. It’s like the lady who struggles with her insatiable appetite for chocolate ice cream. Caving into her craving, she eats just a bite, then a bowl, then before she realizes it, she has eaten a half a gallon. Distraught by what she’s done, she runs to the mirror. Looking discretely at her reflection, she thinks nothing has changed. She continues this practice for the next several weeks. Eventually, the scale reveals her self-deception.
The apostle Paul expressed grave concern in 2 Corinthians 11:3 that believers would fall to the same type of self-deception: “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
He saw the danger we often overlook — our vulnerability to be deceived. As we scrutinize our own behaviors, we may discern a willingness to be self-deceived into thinking there are no immediate effects to sin… much like the lady habitually eating her chocolate ice-cream.
Before we realize it, our peace is fragmented. Our pure devotion to Christ is exchanged for suspicion. Our trust is shaky. At this point, we can choose to repent and experience His restoring peace, or we can prolong our disobedience and worsen the inevitable consequences of our deception.
Let’s not be deceived any longer. Let’s choose repentance.
Dear Father, Your Word serves as a mirror illuminating our true condition. May we look intently into it and see ourselves as we truly are. May we bring any revealed sin to You in repentance so that Your peace can be restored and our trust strengthened. Amen.
Take Action
Read through the deception of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. Refuse through the power of the Holy Spirit to let Satan deceive you into thinking there are no immediate effects to sin.