Deception

Psm 119:59; Exd 20:3

Often times we pray for those in areas of poverty or religious suppression because of the terrible mental, spiritual and physical suffering they encounter, especially those of the faith. We are thankful that we live in an affluent society and we should be thankful for the life Christ has given us. In fact thankfulness and forgiveness are basic necessities of a healthy Christian walk. But there are hidden deceptions in an affluent society that cause us to be as suppressed and tortured mentally, spiritually and physically as those we pray for in those depressed areas of the world.

The deceptions I refer to lead us astray. We look beyond God to meet our needs and then we worship any person, place or thing that meets those needs. We make gods out of the the affluent world around us.

I remember a testimony years back from a woman who lived in the USSR. She came to tell us about her life in that suppressed country. She did not labor over the sufferings her family went through. She talked about how much God blessed them and told us of how He supernaturally delivered them often. Then she turned to us and said, "I know you pray for us and our needs. Thank you. We pray for you too because we know your suffering is greater. How you can survive in a world of noise and plenty astounds us. We pray for your protection from the terrible deceptions that surround you, for we see how it steals dependence on our Savior and worship of His majesty." We were all taken back by her statement but the truth soon settled into each of us.

I became aware of the dangers she pointed out at that time in my life but often, today, I find myself in worship of and dependence on the affluent society. The constant drive to fill my spiritual needs of being loved, valued and accepted thought the world around me eliminates God's touch on my life often.

The industrial revolution brought advertisement. The goal of advertisement is to make us unsatisfied with what we have, to tell us that we need more, to stimulate pride, murmuring, a critical spirit, gossip, lust, prejudice, and to dump integrity to get what we think we need. It also steals time, worship and conversation with the only one who can meet those needs, God.

Those who have desperate physical needs, who are suppressed by governments or who are tortured turn to Him daily to survive. We have the same need yet we can not see through the deception. We do not always turn to Him daily to receive what we need or worship Him as God. We open ourselves to a shallow, self-made, prideful, lustful existence. We are a people ripe for deception in a world that tortures the soul. How do we escape? Repent, surrender and worship the only true God, the Lord and Savior of our lives and daily allow Him to meet us in the a quiet interlude, an interlude where He meets every need His way.