If you have been reading any of our blogs, you are familiar with the fact that for the past 5 years Ric and I have been starting our day with Bible reading and prayer. We keep sharing this because it has been such a foundational blessing: “…convincing, rebuking, correcting, warning, urging, and encouraging.” II Timothy 4:2; “For the Word that God speaks is alive, operative, energizing and effective; it is sharper than any 2-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of soul & spirit….exposing, sifting, analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (Amplified).

Although we Christians hear these words and give mental assent to them, it is another matter to truly experience God’s Word in this powerful and profound way in our lives. Ric and I were very committed believers for decades: involved in the church, in Bible studies, and even in ministry. In all this, we did experience God’s Spirit moving and speaking; however, it was usually in the “shortcut” version of waiting for someone else to actually “search it out” and “sum it up” for us. Two images come to my mind. One is from Wall•e, a Pixar movie where the humans have gotten so weak and lazy that all they can do is lay around while the robots feed them.

The second image is from C.S. Lewis’ “Screwtape Letters.” I couldn’t seem to get through this book; but I was able to listen to the audio recording (that I have linked above). Clearly, the reason I had so much difficulty reading it is that I could hardly stand being “in the head” of the demonic Screwtape as he counsels his nephew demon “Wormwood.” For example, Wormwood’s “assigned” human has started going to church, but Screwtape urges Wormwood not to worry. Instead, he instructs him to use this religious activity to distract his human from “the Enemy” (God) and His Word. How often our habits of church going, etc. and our great intentions and ideals become our lodestar instead of reading God’s Word, listening to Him, and yielding to Him.

It is not surprising that the Bible is sometimes confusing to us: we are, after all, “mere mortals,” and we have different perspectives and levels of maturity. One question that arose a few weeks ago during our Bible reading was whether or not the “elect” can be deceived: Jesus says that “they will…lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24) My interpretation of the “elect” here are the true believers — as opposed to the “religious:” Do the words “if possible” indicate that it is or is not possible? Ric and I disagreed on this.

Another very troubling scripture is Matthew 7:22-23 in which Jesus maintains that: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’  And then will I [Jesus] declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’” How are people deceived into thinking that they know Him?

Since than, for several weeks, I have felt the Lord calling me to address the subject of deception, but it has seemed overwhelming. I have been writing and rewriting and it seems that the “mountain” is rising higher and higher. I finally realized that for now I need to condense my thoughts into three blog posts.Swearing in before testifying in a court these words are used, “The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” I googled this to see if it is still used in courtrooms, and what I found is very interesting (you will be surprised to discover who made the first objection to it); but, yes, it is still used in a modified form. The first blog, therefore, is about “the Truth.”

“Jesus said, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

According to the Word of God, therefore, the Truth is a Person, not something that I can just conjure up in my mind — not just a matter of opinion based on my intellectual or emotional processing. My dad was an engineer, a quiet man of deep thought and sensitive soul. Disillusioned, he had “quit church” when we kids were teenagers. Many years later, after I had repented from a long prodigal path, I had sent him a card which I found among his things after he died; In it I had gently challenged him: “The Truth is the Truth. It doesn’t become false because I don’t believe it. Conversely, a lie does not become Truth simply because I believe it is true.”

“If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:23. Am I willing to go to the Lord and ask “Lord, is any of my ‘light’ darkness? Show me the Truth!”

“These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” I Corinthians 2:10-11

“…the Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:17.

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,” I Timothy 4:1

For me, this scripture leads to the root of how “the elect” can be deceived. First, I am struck by the words “devoting themselves.” Do I really believe that people make a conscious choice to follow demons?” I know that some do, but the majority just fail to discern that what they are believing and following is actually a well constructed deception. This is why “Screwtape Letters” is so brilliant. It awakens us to the possibility that I am embracing a lie.

So, in these confusing and divisive times when feelings of hopelessness nip at our heals, what hope is there? “…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 that I have said to you.” John 14:26. “Even the Spirit of Truth…..“