Introduction. Given a clear choice between believing a lie or holding fast to the truth, everyone would choose truth. Truth leads to success, to being right and to a life with no regrets. Deception leads to being cheated, being wrong and having great regret. Thus as we face complex choices, wisdom demands we seek for what is true and factual in order to have a good outcome. When making a large purchase like a car, a home, or investments for retirement we research to be certain it is not “too good to be true”. It is heart breaking to hear of people who were cheated out of their life savings because of deception and lies.
Jesus strongly warned against deception. Spiritual cons and scams will cheat many out of their eternal life: “There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,” and “in their greed will exploit you with deceptive words.” Paul warned “let no one cheat you of your reward” and “beware lest anyone cheat you.” (2Pet. 2:1-3; Col. 2:8, 18). Jesus revealed that those who make excuses for these things will fail to change the outcome: “I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Mt. 7:21-23).
Think of it! Multitudes who expect to receive eternal life will instead find only rejection. Thinking they are serving Jesus their entire lives, they have been exploited in greed and cheated out of their reward. Imagine the wailing and anguish that will be heard. If we don’t want to be among them, we must heed Jesus’ warning. Only the narrow gate and the few who enter it will navigate the difficult way to eternal life. (Mt. 7:13-14). It is also sad to watch those who expend great effort watching over their retirement savings in tumultuous times, giving little to no thought about Jesus’ warnings (Mt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:13-21).
Jesus strongly warned against deception. Spiritual cons and scams will cheat many out of their eternal life: “There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,” and “in their greed will exploit you with deceptive words.” Paul warned “let no one cheat you of your reward” and “beware lest anyone cheat you.” (2Pet. 2:1-3; Col. 2:8, 18). Jesus revealed that those who make excuses for these things will fail to change the outcome: “I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Mt. 7:21-23).
Think of it! Multitudes who expect to receive eternal life will instead find only rejection. Thinking they are serving Jesus their entire lives, they have been exploited in greed and cheated out of their reward. Imagine the wailing and anguish that will be heard. If we don’t want to be among them, we must heed Jesus’ warning. Only the narrow gate and the few who enter it will navigate the difficult way to eternal life. (Mt. 7:13-14). It is also sad to watch those who expend great effort watching over their retirement savings in tumultuous times, giving little to no thought about Jesus’ warnings (Mt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:13-21).