Deception, The New Reality

Recently, our Grandson Jackson expressed an interest in learning to do some magic tricks.  At six-years of age, Jackson perceives that magic tricks contain, well, magic.  He doesn't realize they are exercises of slight-of-hand and illusion.  They are basically planned deception.  While I am quite sure it will be fun to teach him some slight-of-hand, I hate to see his little face collapse when he realizes there is no real magic involved.

It is amazing how much of our lives are steeped in deception.  The wood floors we walk upon are often "faux wood."  We are constantly encountering "simulated this" or "computer-generated that."  Watching the original "Wizard of Oz" and realizing the tornado scene was composed of a thirty-five foot long muslin sock, instead of a computer generated imagery, somehow makes it more impressive to me today than perhaps it was when it debuted in 1939.

We are reaching a point where we can't even tell what is actually real and what is the deception.  And that's the point, isn't it?  To be so real that it fools the eye, deceives the senses, that is the purpose of the deception.

We must all realize that sin in our universe began with the express intent to deceive.  Satan deceived Eve as the Scriptures clearly point out. "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression, (1 Timothy 2:14.)"  

By definition, no one who is being deceived is aware of their deception, else they would not be deceived.  We must be keenly aware that there is still a deceiver lurking in our very gardens. We must be sure he will try to twist the Scriptures to his warped purposes -- as he did in the wilderness with our Lord.  We must be vigilant that he will not appear as we expect, but will look like the "real thing,"  he may transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14.)  

We must be careful, diligent and mindful that the possibility is always out there to be deceived.  Adam and Eve were sinless and in a perfect garden and they met with deception. How much more we, who have enemies to assault us every day, can face this possibility?  Let us "hold fast that which is good" and "prove all things."

Faux wood floors are fine, but deception in our spiritual lives is not.  CGI in our movies is a great tool, but twisting and manipulation of the Scriptures is not.  Let us be aware that it only takes a little thing to change the real deal into a deception.

1 John 4:1

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."