Jesus is Essential
Matthew 24:3–4: Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
“Take heed that no man deceive you” is characteristic of this entire age. The Lord gives this word of caution because there will be much deception, especially during the Tribulation period when the Antichrist will appear. However, we are to beware of false teachers, and there are a great many of those around. We must test them by Scripture. In this morning’s mail a letter has come to me which illustrates this fact.
It has come from a woman who apparently has an important position in an insurance company. She tells of a well–meaning friend who introduced her to a cult. After going to her friend’s church for one year, she heard our Bible–teaching radio program, and the Scripture alerted her to the error of the cult. Then she tells of how she and her entire family went to a good church in her area. My friend, we need to beware of false teaching. There is a lot of it around in our day. Our Lord warns, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” 1
Walking with Jesus
The first words of Jesus as He began His earthly ministry was “repent.” Some of His final exhortations include “do not be deceive.” When we no longer feel the need to repent, we are probably greatly deceived. Maybe it is time to repent of not repenting.
We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. Ephesians 4:14
If our will is more important than God’s will, we are definitely deceived.
Praying
Lord, please protect me from believing the subtle worldly deception that will eventually lead me into dark, sinful bondage.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Matthew 14-28) (electronic ed., Vol. 35).
