Deception
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One deception I have observed lately is the deception by “educational institutions.” Our advertising media is flooded by all kinds of Institutions, mostly foreign, offering all kinds of certificates, including Ph.D. Many, who credible institutions of higher learning would have difficulties admitting, easily find “schools” willing to award them certificates; mostly driven by commercial interests. And most of them can be found “online” only.
The most abused are the honorary degrees, and it is interesting how these people flaunt their degrees. What this has created is confusion, making it difficult to trust certificates on the face value, and giving those who evaluate such qualifications more work in verifying not just the certificates, but the authenticity and credibility of the offering institutions.
I was on one interviewing panel recently, when one young man said he had a qualification from a foreign university. The chair of the panel immediately asked him,
“Was it in person, or online?”
That was the first time I heard such a question in an interview, but he was in his right to ask that question. While this was not meant to cast any doubts on online certificates, it was a good place to start probing further.
Deception, especially one that gives you a false sense of being, is always dangerous. One of the greatest deceptions in human history happened in the garden of Eden. Let us read it.
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
(Genesis 3:4-5 NIV)
This deception, where man was made to think he could be like God led to a lot of problems for mankind. We become vulnerable to deception, and the enemy easily notices and takes advantage of it:
- When we think we can bypass due process.
- When we become discontented with what we genuinely have.
- When greed overwhelms us.
- When we become impatient regarding God’s promises.
Deceptions are orchestrated to take us out of the will of God. Jesus was well aware of God’s promises to supply all His needs, and would not become a victim of Satan’s deception when tempted in Matthew 4.
The fact that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was in the garden meant God had plans for it. But then man went ahead of those plans, and it led to disaster!
May we also become so aware of our God and his promises that no deception would overtake us.
MEMORY VERSE
‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’
(Matthew 4:10)
QUESTIONS
What things are you believing?
Are you sure they are of God?
PRAYER TIP
Father, I want to know You
deeply and personally
so that I will be protected
from deceptions of the
enemy.
URGENT CALL
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!
God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”
for guidance if you want
to make that decision.
Then develop your new relationship
with God through your Quiet Time.
Then find a Bible-Believing Church
where you can Fellowship with like
minded people.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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