"The Art of Self-Deception"

“The Art of Self-Deception”

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.     James 1:22

No one should deceive himself.  If anyone among your thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise.       1Corinthians 3:18

Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless, for he will get nothing in return.     Job 15:31

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.       1John 1:8

 

The ART of SELF-DECEPTION is VERY prevalent in our world today.  MANY people are DECEIVING THEMSELVES by; sitting in church every Sunday LISTENING to the Word of God, but never APPLYING the Word to their lives.  They think that, as long as they participate in the ACTIVITIES and ORDINANCES of the church, this will provide a place in Heaven for them.  We are encouraged to not JUST LISTEN but to DO WHAT the WORD of GOD SAYS!  If you are NOT LIVING according to the Word of God.  You are DECEIVING YOUR SELF.

 

The Apostle Paul tells us NOT to DECEIVE ourselves by THINKING that we are wise according to the standards of this poor, wretched, sinful world. Instead we need to become “foolish” by realizing that the wisdom of this world is “foolishness” to God.  Then seek God’s wisdom, which will truly make us wise.

 

Job tells us that a person should NOT DECEIVE themselves, by putting their TRUST in WORTHLESS things.  Because this will be a fruitless effort and they will gain NOTHING in this life nor in the life to come.

 

John says, “If we claim to be without sin, we DECEIVE OURSELVES and the TRUTH is NOT in us.”  Many people think that if a person is a GOOD person, one who does GOOD DEEDS, HELPS others and treats others with KINDNESS and RESPECT they will make it into Heaven.  This is a TRUE FORM of SELF-DECEPTION concerning one’s eternal destiny.  You cannot get to Heaven because you are a “GOOD PERSON”.  The Bible tells us that “ALL have sinned and come short of God’s glory.”  (Romans 3:23)  And “You are SAVED by GRACE through FAITH, and this is NOT from yourselves; it is God’s gift---NOT from WORKS, so that NO ONE can boast.             (Ephesians 2:8-9)

DO NOT be SWEPT AWAY by SELF-DECEPTION.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you NEED to do so NOW.  You do it by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING to God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him.  And ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and no longer be held by SELF-DECEPTION, but be FREE, and ESCAPE HELL and GAIN HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON.