GLEANINGS FROM THE SCRIPTURES The Great Deception By Keith L. Estes Bill Gothard in his booklet, "Be Alert to Spiritual Danger," writes a letter to the Alumni of The Institute of Basic Life Principles. He asks this question, "Do you know what 'The Lie" of Satan is? "...God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie." He says that civilizations do not just die. Their leaders and people are first deceived; then they are destroyed by God. "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things (immorality, covetousness, worship of false gods, etc.) cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." The deception comes in the form of "the lie." "The Lie" was first given to Eve in the Garden of Eden: "ye shall be as gods knowing (deciding for yourselves) good and evil." The following illustrates when a nation listens to "the lie." It dethrones God and deifies man's achievements. It exalts human reason as supreme. It trusts education and science to solve its problems. It believes that man is evolving into perfection. It replaces God's moral standards with situational ethics. It promotes sensual pleasure and instant gratification. It strives for a world utopia of prosperity and peace. It makes the State the sovereign dictator over everyone. The tragedy is that "...because iniquity shall abound, the love of many (Christians) shall wax cold (toward God, toward their marriage partner, and toward their own sons and daughters). We must never forget that a civilization is not destroyed because of the wickedness of unbelievers, but because of the carnality of Christians. This is why all of you are so important to what happens in our land! Let us rise up as one voice for our God and for the principles of His Word! The most devastating deception occurs with partial truths. Are we being deceived? References: 2 Thess. 2:3, 11; Eph. 5:6; Gen. 3:5, Matt. 24:12, Gen. 18:32; 2 Chron. 7:14 Return to Home Page Return to Current Edition Contact us