November 12, 2022
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit . . . 2 Corinthians 11:3-4a
Our heritage goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Yesterday we observed the dividing of the church into the false and the true worship of God. This pattern has existed ever since sin entered the world. Cain and Abel were both worshiping God, but Cain wanted to do it his own way; his disregard for God’s instructions on how to approach Him showcased a disregard for divine authority. God’s purpose in having a sacrificial animal in the course of worship pointed to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Just as God sought Adam and Eve after their initial endeavor onto the territory of sin, calling “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9), He communicates that He is looking for each of us. We need to know where we are in our walk with Him. He faithfully engineers our circumstances so that we are brought to the point of making distinct choices—in short, testing. It is the enemy of God who works to blur distinctions in order to deceive us and lead us to failure and ruin.
God has made clear to us the simple and foundational principles by which we are to live. And then, we are faced daily with practical tests. Do not allow the enemy to take back “territory” that you have surrendered to Jesus. One way that Satan regains ground that he has lost is in small, seemingly insignificant, details. He will whisper, “God doesn’t really care about this or that…” and any lapse of undivided loyalty to God’s authority will render us susceptible and have a corrupting effect. An uninterrupted walk with Jesus, maintaining a constant connection through prayer and through His Word will confirm and strengthen the sanctifying effect that is essential for preparation to live with Him for eternity. This sanctification highlights His grace at work to refine us and purify our character.
Be aware that another Jesus is being preached in the world. This false Jesus has altered or omitted numerous teachings in the Word while claiming authority to make such changes. On a massive scale, all across the world, these deceptive alterations are being accepted without question. God’s loving warnings, if heeded, will place you securely beyond the reach of deception and “every wind of doctrine” swirling about . . . that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. Ephesians 4:14