What? Can a Christian's heart deceive itself to think they can model and imitate the world and think they are still living a set apart, holy life dedicated to the God they say they whole heartedly love and serve? Yes indeed!!!
In Jeremiah 17:9 God tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Jesus also talked about the wickedness that lies in a man's heart in Mark 7:21-23 - saying that all these evil things come from within and defile the man. So truly wickedness lies in the heart of all men, Christians are not exempt! Again, in Jeremiah 17:5 the Lord says that cursed is the man whose heart has departed from the Lord. The Lord spoke through the prophet Ezekiel in 6:9 that His heart is broken in pieces with His people's whorish heart which has departed from Him to chase after the abominable idols they have set up in their heart (14:3; 33:31, etc.).
Yet, the Lord spoke of a generation that always erred in their heart to depart from the Lord. An evil heart of unbelief. A heart hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3). Oh, they call Him Lord, but do not the works He has instructed them to do in His Word - Mt. 25:11-12; Lk. 6:46; 1 Jn. 2:3-6.
Oh I can hear the casual Christian filled with the world, having a form of godliness and religiosity - this doesn't speak of me! I'm okay. No one is perfect. And besides, my Christian buddies are doing the same. Yet, Galatians 6:7-8 tells us not to be deceived, that what we sow we will reap! Have you in all your ways been sowing the fruits of righteousness (Jam. 3:18; Prov. 11:18; Heb. 12:11), or have you rather been plowing wickedness, reaping iniquity and eating the fruit of lies with yours buddies (Hos. 10:13)? Are you an honest doer of the whole Word of God (Jam. 1:22-25)?
Have you deceived yourself into a love of worldly things? (1 Jn. 2:15-17) Have you learned the ways of the ungodly and practice them without a pricked conscience? I have recently observed professing Christians once again observing their own form of Halloween, though with a different name in most cases. The casual observer notices no difference! The apostle Paul asks the Corithians what partnership does righteousness have with unrighteousness? What portion or part has does a believer share with an unbeliever? What fellowship has light with darkness? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? Why? Because we are the temple of God and He has called us to separate ourselves from such things! He calls us to cleanse ourselves from such wickedness and live in holiness in the fear of God! Alas, have you separated yourself, dearly beloved and elect of the Father? Or have you turned your heart after other gods/idols to serve and worship them? (Dt. 8:19; 11:16)
Remember that God is light and there is no darkness in Him (1 Jn. 1:5). Moreover if we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the Truth (1 Jn. 1:6). Is the path you are walking as a shining light that shines brighter each day, or is there some darkness lurking in your heart that is causing you to stumble with you even realizing it? (Prov. 4:18-19; Jer. 13:16)
Dear Christian, take heed to your ways. Examine them. Deceive not yourself. Just because others in your circle are doing it, doesn't mean that it is right and well pleasing before the Saviour of our souls and the righteous Judge Who will expose all unfruitful works of darkness. What exposes unfruitful works of darkness? Light of course (Eph. 5:11-13). How is your walk? Are you walking wisely or foolishly? (Eph. 5:15-17; Prov. 13:20) Normally those in darkness hide (Jn. 3:19-21), yet even today, those that name the name of Christ are walking in darkness and are not ashamed to let others know, but rather encourage others to follow the destructive ways (2 Pet. 2:2) and many are happy to do so! Yet, if we name the name of Christ we are to depart from iniquity! 2 Tim. 2:19; Mt. 7:21-23, etc.
Have you aloud yourself to be deceived? Take an inventory of the furthest reaches of your heart. Get into the Word! Ask God to search your heart for any wickedness. When it is found, forsake it and repent and God will be plentious in mercy towards you! Don't delay! Get right with Him today!
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