If I'm Deceived, How Am I Going to Know It?, By MP
By Jeremiah Z
September 8, 2018
Hello. Someone gave me the Amish Voice, and I thought there were some good articles in there. I really appreciated the last article that I read, “Living in the Stronghold of Deception.” It’s so easy, I think. If I’m deceived, how am I going to know it? You know, because a deceived person thinks he’s right. And you can’t just walk up to somebody and say, “You’re deceived” because it would never work that way. Basically, you believe what you believe unless you’re open to the truth; and sometimes the truth hurts, especially to really know the truth about ourselves. Sometimes it causes pain because we don’t always like what we see in ourselves, but we must be honest. I think we must be honest with ourselves and admit that we may not always see it right. There’s a big difference between fitting ourselves into God’s plan or trying to fit God into our plans.
—MP from PA
Jeremiah Z responds:
MP,
Thank you for writing. For ourselves as well as others, I wonder if there is anything that is more powerful than prayer. The Lord is the only one who can really show us the truth (and He sometimes does do that through other people). I'm thinking of Job after God spoke to him, where Job said, I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee (Job 42:5).
I don't know how any one of us can really see unless the Lord opens our eyes, much like Paul when he was on his way to Damascus and the Lord stopped him, spoke to him, and made the “scales” fall off his eyes: And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized (Acts 9:18).
I know from experience that we can ask the Lord to open our eyes to the truth. That is basically my story, though even worse than those who are deceived, I sinned knowing it was wrong while I did it. I think there is much more grace for those who are in error from deception than for those who are sinning on purpose. But that said, I asked the Lord to make me willing to live for Him, and He did. He changed my heart, and I now genuinely do want to live for Him.
And this is important: as I read the Bible, I've found that it's very helpful to ask the Lord, by the Holy Spirit, to show me what I'm reading. I believe that if we ask the Lord to reveal truth to us, and we mean it with an open heart, He will show us all the truth that we need as we read the Bible and spend time in prayer with Him.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come (John 16:13).
Jeremiah Z
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