God’s Word tells us the last days will be filled with deception and lawlessness. (1 John 2:18-23, 1 John 3:4-9 and 2 Thessalonians 2:5-10, for example.) That characterizes our world today, yet we are seeing only the beginning.

In Matthew 24, as Jesus described the last days to His disciples, He provided a very sober warning to those of us who call Him Lord: false teachers and prophets seek to deceive even the elect. (Matthew 24:24) That’s a warning to every follower of Jesus Christ!

To help us be aware and on guard, Pastor Jack Hibbs recently posted this exhortation on Facebook. We are wise to heed the warning!

How literally do you take the Word of God? By that, I mean, do you understand that there are forces rallying right now against your faith, family, and church? And that so-called miracle workers will arise whose persuasiveness will ensnare the unsuspecting by twisting the Scriptures? 
If you believe these things are true, then it’s time to take God’s Word seriously.
 
DAZZLING DECEPTION
According to the Bible, deceivers are already at work, but there is an even darker deception on the horizon. Jesus warned that if it were possible, their deceptive powers would carry away even the very elect of God. (Matthew 24:24)
Imagine if you combined the creativity of a Stephen Spielberg or George Lucas with the visionary boldness of someone like Bill Gates. What could these types of men produce – through their ability to dazzle, impress, and influence – if they had unlimited resources and presented their endeavor universally, decorated as religion? It would be a global Goliath, a devilish enterprise! Exactly, as the Bible says, it will happen. 

RECOGNIZED AND RESISTED
Deception doesn’t arrive overnight. It comes at a gradual yet insidious pace. How can you be sure that you will not be deceived? What determines your readiness to stand against false prophets and reject their demonic manifestations, no matter how alluring and powerful?  
What you believe about the Word of God makes all the difference, but you’ve got to know it to believe it. The more earnest you are in studying the Bible, the greater your capacity becomes to recognize Satan’s aberrant doctrine. 
Christian, if you’re trusting Jesus for your salvation, then grab hold of the rest of Scripture in the same way – wholeheartedly and literally.

IN HIS PRESENCE
Do you belong to Jesus Christ? Have you followed Him only to experience wave after wave of trouble? Are you being tossed by fear and doubt over how it will end? Then insert your name and circumstance into this account and its eventual outcome because the same LORD is with you today.
Rest in His power alone and trust Him to take you over to the other side.

Awaiting His return,
Pastor Jack