The Easy Belief of Self-Deception … Part 1
“Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves.” James 1:22 (GW)
Self-deception. It can be a subtle and dangerous snare, particularly for Believers.
Like the original Deceiver Satan, self-deception whispers soothing lies, convincing us that we are in the right, that our actions are justified, and that our beliefs are sound, even when they stand contrary to God’s truth.
In fact, there is nothing Satan fears more than the truth of God’s Word. If mankind received the Word honestly, no one would ignore or disavow the gospel, and on Judgment Day, hell would be empty.
As the late Pastor Matthew Bassford wrote, “Satan constantly is hard at work defeating the gospel, doing everything he can to put armor plate between it and us so that it can’t pierce our hearts.”
The Bible is filled with reminders and examples of how Satan entices men and women into deceiving themselves, even when faced with God’s judgement.
Prophesying to people of Israel in the sixth century B.C., Jeremiah proclaimed “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV).
Some years earlier, the prophet Obadiah told the people of Edom “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’” (Obadiah 1:3, ESV).
This is a big topic. So big, we divided our thoughts and comments into two posts. This is Part 1.
The Mirror of God’s Word
Let’s turn to James, the brother of Jesus. In his letter we know as the Book of James, he writes with a bluntness that leaves little room for misunderstanding.
In James 1:22-27, he draws a vivid comparison between those who hear God’s word and do not act on it and a person who looks at themselves in a mirror and then immediately forgets what they look like.
It’s a powerful image of self-deception. The mirror represents God’s Word, the truth revealing who we truly are. But how often do we glance at that reflection and quickly turn away, telling ourselves what we saw wasn’t so bad?
James is clear: “Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves.” (James 1:22, GW). Hearing or reading the Word is not enough. If we walk away with our lives unchanged, we deceive ourselves.
How Self-Deception Works In Us
We might be convinced that going to church, joining a Bible study, or serving in ministry is evidence enough of our faith. Yet, without obedience to the Word—without letting it transform our lives—we are like the man who forgets his reflection. We are no different from those who live in ignorance of God’s truth.
Self-deception like this can show up in many ways. We might explain away sin, telling ourselves that certain behaviors are acceptable because we’re “only human” or “God will understand.”
We might pride ourselves on how much more “enlightened” we are today than the writers of Scripture, selectively picking and choosing which parts of the Bible to follow based on what aligns with our desires. Yer God’s Word is eternal.
Or our faith could be superficial like the seed thrown on rocky ground in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:20-21), where we simply go through the motions of religion without letting God’s Word take root in our hearts.
God’s Mirror Never Lies
Mirrors can be unforgiving, especially when they reveal our true selves, no filters, with all our blemishes and imperfections. God’s mirror, His Word, is always perfect. Read it, absorb it, pray over it, and let it transform your life today!
Guarding Against Self-Deception
So how do we guard against this easy belief of self-deception? The answer lies in a humble and ongoing submission to God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Here are a few steps we can take:
Regular Self-Examination: Paul advises us to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV). This requires honesty and humility. We must be willing to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and our motives.
Submit to the Word: James instructs us to not only hear the Word but to do what it says. This means allowing Scripture to challenge and change us, even when it’s difficult. We must be doers of the Word, not just hearers.
Seek Accountability: We are not meant to walk this journey alone. Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers who will speak truth into our lives is vital. We need people who will challenge us, encourage us, and pray with us as we strive to live in obedience to God.
Stay Humble: Pride is often at the root of self-deception. When we think we have it all figured out, we become susceptible to believing our own lies. We must cultivate a spirit of humility, recognizing our constant need for God’s grace and guidance.
Pray for Discernment: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of self-deception in your life. He is the Spirit of truth and will guide you into all truth (John 16:13). But we must be willing to listen and act on His promptings.
Next week we’ll look at Paul’s warnings about the Last Days and a Word of Encouragement on fighting self-deception.
May God continuously lead your path