The Ultimate Deception
Well, perhaps, ‘The Ultimate Deception’ may not be the best way of putting things. Maybe an appropriate title may also be ‘The Saddest Deception’ or ‘The Worst Deception’ or ‘The Most Worrying Deception’ or ‘The Most Concerning Disception’ or ‘The Most Disturbing Deception’.
Could these following words of Jesus be indicating and enlightening us to ‘The Ultimate Deception?
Jesus said…
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!‘ [Matt 7:21-23] (NIV)
The question is, could we live out our faith in total deception of knowing Christ? Could we so deceive ourselves about our faith and walk in Jesus that when we meet Him face to face He will say to us ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!‘ ? What an eternal shock that would be!
Well, unfortunately the text says MANY will be self deceived into thinking that they know Christ and Christ knows them. Even those who have a hand in prophecy and deliverance and miracles. This is not a teaching or a parable of Jesus but a hard and concerning truth. This is a vital truth for us to understand. Who is the MANY? What is their self deception?
Here are a number of verses to pray about.
Rom 8:9
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (NIV)
John 3:3-7
3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ (NIV)
Matt 25:1-12
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.‘ (NIV)
Note: Oil in the Bible is a symbol for the Holy Spirit.
Finally…
In 2 Cor 13:5 the Bible says:
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test? (NIV)
May the Spirit bring you revelation and enlightenment and salvation today, in Jesus name, Amen
Enlightened Hope 
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