“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

 

(1 John 5:19)

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As challenging as it may seem, we are living in a world surrounded by deception: in government, in the media, in religion, in education, in consumer culture, in industry, in health and science, and even in psychology. At least that’s what we can conclude if our eyes and ears are open and we are students of God’s Word. 

 

When did this deception begin? A very long time ago; in the Garden of Eden. You probably know (or have heard of) the story of how Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent (who we later find to be the devil) into believing they could disobey God (without consequence) and eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That single act of rebellion plunged the entire creation into brokenness and sin. This wasn’t just taking a bite from an apple and having their eyes opened; this was the willful act of deciding they could choose for themselves what is good and what is evil. In other words, they decided they did not need God to tell them what was right and what was wrong. 

 

And here we are, thousands of years later, struggling to ascertain truth from lies in practically every aspect of our daily lives. 

 

Just in case we don’t fully grasp the significance of this event in our history, the Bible provides us with dozens of explicit instances (lies, disguises, false prophets, strategic deception in war, self-deception, spiritual deception), which have occurred between then and now, detailing the consequences of Adam and Eve’s poor decision. 

 

Here's a quick list of some of those: 

 

The Serpent deceives Eve – Genesis 3

Adam and Eve hide and deflect blame – Genesis 3

Cain lies to God (“Am I my brother’s keeper?”) – Genesis 4

Abraham lies about his wife, Sarah (Egypt) – Genesis 12

Abraham lies again (Gerar) – Genesis 20

Isaac repeats the same lie – Genesis 26

Jacob deceives Isaac – Genesis 27

Rebekah orchestrates the deception – Genesis 27

Jacob deceives Esau – Genesis 27

Laban deceives Jacob (Leah/Rachel) – Genesis 29

Jacob deceives Laban with the flocks – Genesis 30

Joseph’s brothers deceive Jacob about Joseph’s death – Genesis 37

Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute – Genesis 38

Divination and occult deception – Deuteronomy 

Rahab lies to protect the spies – Joshua 2

Joshua’s ambush of Ai – Joshua 8

The Gibeonites deceive Joshua – Joshua 9

Jael deceives Sisera – Judges 4

Gideon’s deceptive tactics – Judges 7

Delilah deceives Samson – Judges 16

The Trojan-horse–like strategy themes (Judges, Kings)

Saul lies repeatedly – 1 Samuel 

Saul rationalizes disobedience – 1 Samuel 15

David lies to Ahimelech – 1 Samuel 21

David feigns madness – 1 Samuel 21

David conceals sin with Bathsheba – 2 Samuel 11

David arranges Uriah’s death by deception – 2 Samuel 11

Absalom deceives Israel to steal loyalty – 2 Samuel 15

Jezebel deceives Naboth’s city – 1 Kings 21 

A lying spirit is sent to deceive Ahab’s prophets – 1 Kings 22

Ahab deceives and is deceived – 1 Kings 22

False alliances through deception – Kings/Chronicles 

Jehu deceives Baal worshipers – 2 Kings 10

Israel repeatedly deceives itself about repentance – Isaiah, Jeremiah

False prophets lie in God’s name – Jeremiah, Ezekiel

Prophets who speak peace falsely – Micah, Jeremiah 

Herod lies to the Magi – Matthew 2

Satan tempts Jesus with distortion of Scripture – Matthew 4

Pharisees use hypocrisy and traps – Gospels 

Judas deceives Jesus and the disciples – Gospels 

Peter denies Jesus – Gospels 

Pharisees deceive themselves about righteousness – Matthew 23

Jesus warns about false Christs – Matthew 24

Ananias and Sapphira lie – Acts 5

Simon the Magician deceives people – Acts 8

False apostles deceive churches – Epistles

Great deception before the end – 2 Thessalonians 2

The Beast and False Prophet – Revelation

Satan deceives the nations – Revelation 20

 

The Bible ends where it began: deception vs. truth. This teaches us:

 

• Deception is universal

• Humans lie easily

• Power multiplies deception

• Self-deception is worst

• God does not lie

• Truth always exposes lies

• Redemption requires confession

 

What a mess! But wait a minute; maybe it’s not completely our fault: maybe the devil made us do it:

 

“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” (Revelation 12:9)

 

That’s a good point and yes, the enemy of all humanity is complicit in deception, lies, etc. However, every one of us remains responsible for our own decisions, choices and behavior.

So how are we to “survive” in a world filled with deception? In a world tainted by lies and under the power of the devil? In a world where even our leaders intentionally mislead us into thinking they have our best interest at heart? 

 

There is only one way, and that way is Jesus Christ. He told us Himself that He was “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He told the Pharisees that He knew their father Abraham, and that He was the “I Am,” the same phrase God used with Moses at the burning bush in Exodus chapter three. He said He was “the Door,” and all others are thieves and robbers. And He promised us that His Spirit would come and “guide us into all truth.”

 

In other words, He made it very clear that He alone can and does provide us with the only means to see through the enemy’s deception and his plans to steal, kill, and destroy. 

 

When we realize what Christ did for us on the Cross of Calvary, when we turn from our sin and rebellion (repent) and humbly come to Him in faith, and ask Him to save us, He absolutely will. He will forgive us, cleanse us, give our dead spirit new life, and send His Spirit to live within us. Our eyes and ears will be opened, and we will begin to see through all the lies, deceit, and false information around us. 

 

The Bible tells us a great deception is coming, and soon. It warns us that many (a very high percentage) will be deceived. That many will be led to destruction. That we are to hold fast to the truth (Him). That we are to study His Word and walk with Him daily. To those who consciously reject Christ and His message of salvation, this deception will be terminal. To “church folk” who know little of God’s Word, this great deception will be lethal. My hope and my prayer is that you won’t be in either of these groups. That you will turn to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Perhaps a bit cliché, the promised last days are very near. 

 

May our Lord Jesus Christ be praised and honored and glorified by all that we say, all that we think, and all that we do.