2Ti 3:1-5, 13-14 says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away…….But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.”

Certainly evil men and seducers are becoming worse and worse. There shouldn’t be much argument about that. They not only deceive people, but are deceived themselves. The deception in the world right now is so thick, many so-called Christians find themselves agreeing with anti-Christ views; instead of Christian ones. How can this deception take place in the church? I suppose you could easily come up with a dozen answers to that question. However, in my opinion, one answer stands out: people do not know God’s Word, and they don’t believe God’s Word. If they knew it and believed it, they wouldn’t be deceived.

The Bible gives us ten clear examples, or traits, of a deceived person. So if you do not want to be deceived; or if you are deceived, and need to be free: then learning these ten examples should fix the problem in short order. Let’s get into God’s Word, and find out what they are. A deceived person: 1. Serves and worships other gods (Dt 11:16). There is only one God, creator of heaven and earth. We are to keep ourselves from dumb idols (1Jn 5:21, Ps 115:1-9).

2. Trusts in false, empty, and useless things (Job 15:31). Man was made with a void that only the Spirit of God can fill (Gen 2:7). If it’s not filled with Jesus, then man tries to fill it with money, work, material things, entertainment, sex, drugs, alcohol, secular knowledge, worldly success, etc. Yet, none of these things fill that void; none of these things satisfy. Only Jesus Christ. 3. Follows false Christ’s (Lk 21:8). People are always looking for the next new thing; the next religion; the next star. Instead, they ought to be looking for the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:9). The One who actually cares for them; Who died for them; Who offered them everlasting life as a free gift: Jesus Christ, The Righteous.

4. Thinks it doesn’t matter who you hang out with (1Cor 15:33). You become who you hang around. If your not strong in who you are, your rotten friends will make you rotten. Be ye separate, says The Lord (2Cor 6:17). 5. Thinks they can sow one thing, and reap something else (Gal 6:7). No need to expound on this. 6. Thinks he can handle addictions, when he can’t (Prov 20:1). My friend, don’t lie to yourself. Admit you can’t handle it. Go to God, and be honest. It’s amazing how many people can have so many problems, just by having “a couple” of drinks on “occasion”. 7. Often has a prideful heart (Obd 1:3). Pride goes before destruction (Prv 16:18).

8. Thinks they’re something, when they are not (Gal 6:3). What do you have, that God hasn’t given? Have a spirit of humility. We have nothing, if we have not Jesus. 9. Thinks their words don’t matter (Jam 1:26). As we learned last week, that is simply not true. Your tongue steers your life, like a little rudder steers a ship (Jam 3:4-5). 10. Allows sin to have dominion in their life (Rom 7:11, 1Cor 6:9-11), which can lead to eternal death (Rev 19:20, 20:10). We must know who we are in Christ, and what we have been delivered from.

I pray you would look up the Scriptures listed in this article, and that the study of The Bible would become of great importance to you. In these days of great deception, God’s children need to be aware and alert. We must be wise as serpents, and gentle as doves (Mt 10:16). Have a blessed week, and until next time, rejoice in The Lord!