DON'T BE DECEIVED

Hebrews 13:8-9 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace…”

Galatians 1:11-12 “Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the Gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.” (the Apostle Paul)

Galatians 1:8-9 “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.” (the Apostle Paul)

It has always been the tactic of Satan to do all he can to twist the Word of God, to cause people to doubt and/or reject what God has plainly communicated. God’s Word has been written down and preserved throughout human history in what is called The Bible, spoken through His Prophets and finally through His Eternal Son, Jesus Christ, and declared in writing by His Apostles.

A strong delusion has been cast over the world in our age that says truth is determined by what we feel. What is real is now being framed by what people desire, want, have determined will make them feel good. There is no reference to objective truth, in fact, the thought that objective truth exists is mocked and derided. Encouraging and fueling rebellion against what God has clearly stated will make for life has been the satanic strategy since the beginning.

The eternal fact is, God’s Word is Truth, or as someone has said, “true Truth.” It does not change and still speaks to humanity, confronting all cultures as it has always done. It the blatant disregard for God’s Truth that has caused the brittle, broken and decaying world, the kinds of wanton evil and disregard for human life we see rampant in our own day.

Satan is not creative. He simply takes what God has made “good” and twists it to be used in ways it was never designed to be used. Satan HATES that human beings bear the “image of God” as the crown of His creation. So, the devil does all he can to distort, mar, scar, confuse and destroy any vestige of God’s image found in a human being.

Satan does not want humanity to know that wholeness of life can never be found by indulging in what God’s Word makes clear will destroy life. Sin can never save, heal, or restore anyone to wholeness. Just because it “feels good” does not make it (whatever “it” may be) “good.” Even God-given good things can be taken out of the context that God has defined as the place where those “good things” are very good. Outside the context God has declared for things to be “good,” those very things become destructive, addictive, and idolatrous.

God’s love has never changed. God’s Word has never changed. God’s ways are eternal and unchanging. He alone knows how human life is meant to be. He alone can provide the power and grace for true human life to be known and experienced. There is no other means of salvation, restoration, forgiveness, and newness of life except through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is not an admixture of Jesus Christ + something else.

Following Jesus Christ in daily life as Lord and Savior is radically different that what culture anywhere describes as normative. Identity is established by God not media or fad. Hope and peace are not grounded in circumstances but in God, Himself. Meaning and purpose are given by God, not determined by income, social status, or power. Life changes because the Source of life changes. People in relation to God through Jesus Christ are daily becoming more their true selves, are becoming more and more “human” because the Holy Spirit is living in them the very Life of Jesus.

Do not be duped. God’s ways make for life. Nothing else will.