Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8 KJV).
We are in the beginning of sorrows. During these times, our faith is especially being tested. The tests reveal our spiritual state. They show us where we still need to give ourselves to God and forsake sin. We need to choose by faith to give up self. We must repent and be converted to be saved. We need to forsake all for God. It is all a walk of faith.
God tells us all that we need to know, so that we are not deceived. He wants us to be ready for such times as these. Worse is to come. Will we be ready? Are we prepared for His return? Our choices during the tests provide the answer.
We must understand that sin is rooted in the seed of selfishness, covetousness. The Bible clearly states that it is the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life that lead to sin. By it, we become deceived. By it, faithlessness and greater unbelief is encouraged. it becomes easy to choose to disobey God. It becomes a vicious cycle.
When one accepts Christ, he or she professes to receive God’s gift of salvation. But, when that same one then moves forward in doing what God says, without having first counted the cost; having not repented, and having not the Spirit of God: They are but pawns, and just moving forward going through the motions, living God’s name in vain. They put the cart before the horse. They choose to be doers of the Word of God without faith, and are not hearers and doers of God’s word. These also are they who are hearers only of God’s Word not applying it in the life “thinking” God did it all for them on the cross.
We who believe on Christ are daily dying to self, surrendering self-will to the will of God, having counted the cost first; by faith, we are hearers and doers of His Word. We take heed of His warnings, and we prepare spiritually AND physically. We are watchmen.
Hebrews 3:12-15 KJV
[12] Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. [14] For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; [15] While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
We will be deceived if we have not completely died spiritually and physically surrendering all to God. We choose by faith to die, God resurrects us with a clean new heart, old things are passed away; behold, all things become new. We behold (see) the new creature. This daily physical process is a daily spiritual choice by faith.
Take heed that no man deceive you.
2 Peter 1:19-20 KJV
[19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Romans 11:21-23 KJV
[21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. [22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. [23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 KJV
[10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. [11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Maranatha