Deception is defined as "to propagate beliefs that are not true". When we look at deception, we find that there are 5 types.
1 .lies
2 .indirect contradictory statements
3. concealment
4. exaggeration
5.understatement

I read story about a man who did everything right in his life. He brushed his teeth twice a day with a recommended, popular toothpaste, he got 8 hours of sleep a night., he never drank or smoked, he ate a healthy diet, he wore overshoes when it rained, he golfed, got 2 physicals a year from his Dr. and, never lost his temper. He was set to live to be 100. When he died, he was survived by 18 specialists, 4 health institutes, 6 gyms, numerous health foods and antiseptics. This man forgot God, lived as though this world was all there was and now, he is with others who like Jeremiah wrote Chpt 8 vs 20 "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved"!

There are many people who still live like this today, who think that life consists of things of this world. They are being deceived. I would like to share with you about some who are being deceived.

First,

A. There are those who make light or mock the things of God: May I emphasize, this also includes the word of God (the Bible). ( They are being deceived)
These people figure and think that their sin can be covered up and no-one will know anything about it.
Sin starts and the deceived feels bad. Sin then continues and the heart begins to harden, no feeling of guilt then, sin ends and, lives are destroyed, hearts are broken, desperation grows and often times their lives are ended by suicide.

B.There are those who think the main thing is life is to have a good time:
They get involved in sinful things even though they know the end result,. The Bible even says that sin is fun for a season but, it also says that sin results in death, as mentioned above. The end results of sinful living are sorrow, shame, and heartache. God's word is still true, The wages of sin is death--Physical and Spiritual. Satan's work to deceive people is very successful. You can fool man with a false profession but, you cannot fool God!!!!! Your life, your actions, your attitude, your love, your faithfulness will fail. Why? Because they are false. They are of you and not of Him!!!!!! Satan is a master deceiver but, he is also a master fisherman and man takes his bait. He baits his hook with money, prestige, lavish living, and the strife for satisfaction in life. None of these things satisfy the inner longing and void inside the human soul.
Here are some examples of this. George Eastman of Eastman/Kodak fame--shot himself. unhappy!!!!!
Mr Fleischman, the margarine king, ended his life by drowning himself in the ocean in California. For the younger ones, Elvis Presley ended his life, due to addiction to prescription drugs and his heart failed him. He had looks, cars, diamonds, property, mansions, jewelry and was known by his first name in almost every household in the United States and other parts of the world yet, he was very sad, lonely, and unhappy.

Secondly, Those who sow evil and expect to reap good: ( They are being deceived)
I am from the country and we planted large gardens and "truck Patches" as we called them. These were the basis of our food through the hard winter months. We also planted crops in the river bottom ,for our cattle, for money to buy essentials, and to sell at market. You don't plant potatoes and reap radishes. You don't plant tomatoes and reap watermelon. You sow beans and reap beans, you sow beets and reap beets. Never expect to reap good, when you continually sow evil. God's principle of sowing and reaping has never changed. Did you ever stop to think that you always reap more than you sow. Thing for a minute.
Sow 1 grain of corn and you get a stalk with ears of corn. Sow ears of corn and you get a sack full of corn. Sow a sack full of corn and get a wagon load of corn. Sow a wagon load of corn and get a grainery full.
It is the same with sin, my friend. Hosea wrote that "if you sow to the wind, you will reap the whirlwind in judgment.

Thirdly, the last of those being deceived, are those who put off getting saved":
This is exactly what Satan wants you to do. You want an excuse for not giving your life to Christ, Satan will give you one. You can use excuses like my job, my family, my friends, my finances, what people will think, and tell yourself "not today but, maybe someday". Hell is full of people today who tried to justify themselves with these excuses and many more, that I haven't mentioned.

Story I read once will emphasize this a bit more clearly.
It was a rainy Thursday evening and a man and his son always went out in the town they lived in and, passed out Gospel Tracts. It was rainy and cold and the little boy asked his dad, "are we going to go out and pass our tracts tonight"? His dad said "son, it's rainy and it's cold and I really don't think I will go out in the weather tonight". The little boy said "dad, I will go". His dad was against the young man going by himself but, the little boy was persistant and his dad finally said it was ok to go but, not to stay out too long. The little boy got his tracts and away he went. It was cold and wet. Some people were receptive and some were rude but, the little boy kept handing out tracts till he had only one left. He went up to a door and rang the door bell. no-one answered. He kept ringing the bell, over and over again. He wanted to give out his last tract. Finally, a lady answered the door and the little boy gave her the tract, thanked her and made his way home.
The following Sunday morning, the Pastor of the church asked if anyone had a testimony and a lady stood up. She said "I am not a member of this church and most of you do not know me. I came here to this church today to say thank you to one special little boy. You see, I am old, I have no family and I was in the basement, standing on a chair with a rope around my neck, ready to step off of the chair and end my life, when I heard my doorbell ring. I ignored it but, it kept ringing and ringing so, I took the rope from my neck, climbed the stairs and answered the door. A little boy was there, soaking wet and cold. He handed me a Gospel tract and told me that Jesus loved me. I went back into my house, sat down and read the tract. I began to cry and I gave my life to Jesus. I came here today to thank this little boy for saving my life and for Jesus saving my soul.

You see folks, you reap what you sow. What are you sowing? Are you being deceived?
Riches, prestige, being a good person, doing good things and being nice, will not merit you Heaven and none of these things will cleanse your soul for sin. Only the precious Blood of Jesus can do that. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. You must have Jesus as your Savior if you ever expect to see Heaven and your saved loved ones, who have gone on before.

Oldbiker