“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” -Jeremiah 17:9,10. Bold type & underlining added for emphasis.
When we consider this scripture, we know it's not without cause the Bible tells us to examine ourselves to be sure we're in true faith (2 Corinthians 13:5), or warns us not to be overconfident of our salvation, lest we end up falling short of the glory of God;
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” -Romans 3:23.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” -Proverbs 14:12.
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” -1 Corinthians 10:12.
These verses represent deceits of the heart, which can lead into eternal damnation. Jesus told us the way of salvation is straight & narrow, and only few would find it (Matthew 7:13,14), but then gives an example of a type that seem to be strong Christians, yet really never knew Him at all. We've looked at these verses previously from Matthew 7:21-23, and noted how those cast away totally believed they were in right relationship with God when judgment came, and Jesus said there are MANY like this!
And truly the devil's destructive deceptions are legion (many) in the world today, but the Lord showed me by His Word, that the Last Days' departure from TRUTH will bring upon us the disease of delusion; further cementing the reign of that Man of Sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4).
Please remember the importance of TRUTH in God's eyes, primarily because it's how we need to worship Him, and you see here that He seeks those who'll worship Him in spirit & in truth, and not just through vain appearances;
“23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” -John 4:23,24.
Consider the following scriptures for God's emphasis on truth;
“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” -Psalm 145:18.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.” -from John 14:6.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” -John 17:17.
“For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” -2 Corinthians 13:8.
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour.” -from Ephesians 4:25.
And we need to see how lies will have no part of God's eternal kingdom;
“and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire.” -from Revelation 21:8.
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that...maketh a lie.” -from Revelation 21:27.
“they that do his commandments... may enter into the city. For without are... whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” -from Revelation 22:15. Bold type is added.
Most Christians would quickly claim they always try to be truthful, and are against dishonesty and lies (Proverbs 20:6), but our adversary has subtly snared both the world and the church with the practice of lying; we've come to see, & expect it in the leaders we elect; we're entertained by it through TV and movies; the news media force feeds us with it, shifting our views; and the business world lies in many ways for monetary gain, yet claiming their products and services are for our benefit. Mentally, we may know how evil it is to be untruthful, but its practice has overtaken us; to the point that we can no longer even distinguish lies from the truth, and we're seldom offended when we do recognize it.
But NOW let's look at our key passage regarding the handling of truth, and the delusion God brings; this ought to be sobering, if not downright SCARY. Jesus told us we'd have to account for every word we speak, and He knows our hearts, as we saw in the opening verses (Jeremiah 17:10).
“36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” -Matthew 12:36,37.
Our key passage is taken from 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, but only v.9-12 printed here to focus on;
“9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Bold type was added to emphasize.
This passage is about the Antichrist, or Beast, and the deception he will bring; this deceit is able to prevail because the people hadn't received the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Perhaps they liked some parts of the truth, but not all, or maybe they didn't like any of it. Further prophecy expands on this idea here;
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” -Romans 1:25.
Isn't this what we're seeing today, even amongst professing believers? Christmas is one such example, which we celebrate as Jesus' birthday; even though we know Dec.25th isn't that day (Luke 2:8 briefly verifies), and is pagan in origin. Jesus said that worshippers of God must do so in TRUTH, but this holiday's uncleanness overshadows any truth that may come with it.
Many also love the story of David & Goliath, but David's often portrayed as a mere boy, when the Bible clearly describes him as a man before even meeting King Saul (1 Samuel 16:18); why do so many believers prefer the lie of his boyhood to the truth of scripture? And some actually declare the sin of lying (Exodus 20:16) to be good at times, which becomes a presumptuous sin (Psalm 19:13) they don't repent for.
And church leaders are constantly changing God's Word, retranslating, and replacing faith in it with question marks. New Bible versions (all, but the King James Bible) often attack the person of Jesus, overthrow doctrine, and introduce lies; bringing confusion, which is not of God.
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” -1 Corinthians 14:33
“5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” -Proverbs 30:5,6.
The Bible says that in the end, God will send strong delusion, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. They don't love it enough to be honest about Christmas, or about David, or to turn away from Bible versions that subvert Christian doctrines; they loved the truth only enough to try and claim that Jesus is their Lord (Luke 6:46), but not enough to actually make it true in their lives.
Brethren, when we knowingly promote something that's not fully true, it is a LIE in God's eyes, and we must seek His forgiveness; for those dying without it cannot be saved. Take time to examine every part of your life before God, to be extra sure you're walking truthfully in His eyes.
“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” -Romans 7:21.
“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” -John 3:21.
“23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” -Psalm 139:23,24.
You may also be interested in my short YouTube videos on this subject; Why Only Few are Saved and Being Truthful With God.
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