You’ve probably heard people make comments like “check your brain at the church door on your way in” as if the mind has no business following the body and spirit into the building, or that you must suspend all logical and rational thought in order to embrace Christianity.
There are many biblical ideas that are easily embraced by the human mind. Why not? After all, God designed the mind.
But the bible also says
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding [Proverbs 3:5]
Why do you suppose the warning not to rely on our own understanding? Is it God’s clever way of saying we are stupid? Absolutely not! He is protecting us, because He knows how easily we can be deceived. If you don’t know already, you will learn on this site that there is a deceiver.
The bible makes this point from the first book…
And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” [Genesis 3:13]
To the last…
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [Revelation 12:9]
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. [Revelation 20:10]
If you don’t believe there is a deceiver (or a savior, for that matter) you may be victim to this:
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. [2 Corinthians 4:4]
The god (little “g”) of this age is Satan. The true God is on a rescue mission.
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, [Galatians 1:3,4]
You saw this earlier:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding [Proverbs 3:5]
Just 2 verses later, He says
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. [Proverbs 3:7]
Not only is there a deceiver, but we can deceive ourselves. Conventional wisdom holds that if you stare at the sun for too long, you can go blind. I guarantee you pride can get you there faster!
Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— [Revelation 3:17]
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. [1 Corinthians 10:12]
When it comes to self-decepton, perhaps a greater danger than pride is our very own tongue.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. [James 1:26]
You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. [Proverbs 6:2]
If all that weren’t enough, we may be deceived by others, as well! Let me tell you for sure, there are people dying because of other people’s lying, but it need not be so.
And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?” [Eze 13:19]
I will say it again. There are people dying because of other people’s lying or misinformation.
Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away. “Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. “The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity. And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, And reward them for their deeds. [Hosea 4:1-9]My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
I hope you are convinced that deception, whether it comes from within, without or sources unknown, is a grave threat to righteous, victorious living. In its smallest package it is still the greatest poison.
Of course, the remedy for deception is truth.
1. Call on the God of truth
And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth… [Genesis 24:48]
And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, [Exodus 34:6]
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. [Deuteronomy 32:4]
Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. [Psalms 31:5]
He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. [Psalms 57:3]
But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, Hear me in the truth of Your salvation. [Psalms 69:13]
2. Submit to Jesus, the Lord of truth
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. [John 8:32-36]
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. [John 14:6]
if you confess* with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.* For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” [Rom 10:9-11]
*Note: confess=say. If you believe this, say out loud “Jesus you are Lord of all. Jesus, you are Lord of me!” confess=tell. Tell someone the truth you just spoke!
3. Invite the Holy Spirit, the fountain of truth
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. [John 14:16,17]
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. [John 14:26]
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. [John 15:26]
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. [John 16:13,14]
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM!” [Luke 11:13]
*Note: If you have never done this, ask Him right now, and from now on!
4. Study the bible, the written word of truth
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [2nd Timothy 2:5, KJV]
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [2nd Timothy 2:5, NKJV]
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [Heb 4:12]
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. [2nd Timothy 3:14-17]
not only is God real, but He’s “real” good!
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. [Hebrews 11:6]
I leave you with this promise again which is as sure today as it was when Solomon wrote it!
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. [Proverbs 3:5,6]