Many years ago, I heard the question: “Can a deceived man know that he’s deceived?”  The obvious answer is: “No! Why? because he’s deceived!” Not only is this a very true statement, it’s one that should humble us. We can be deceived! Matthew wrote that even the elect will be deceived. [24:24] Will, not might.

Few things can put me on my knees quicker than to realize that I can be deceived. I’ve come to understand that this can be used as a protection. If I CAN be deceived, I had better make certain that I am not!. I’m prone to falter by kidding myself that I am right in my opinion just as quick as the next person.

The enemy’s stealth is to conceal his acts and his works. Most of them are slyly hidden from natural sight–yet must be spiritually discerned in order that we not fall prey to his schemes. He’s the great deceiver; that is, he can be…when we aren’t walking in the light of truth. The ultimate goal of the enemy is exactly what he did in the Garden: to deceive. Eve’s weakness lies deep within our fallen nature, as well as does the tendency for us to blame God.

Romans 6:16 The Message reads: “So, since we’re out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we’re free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it’s your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you’ve let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you’ve started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in HIS freedom!”