The greatest challenge humans face is deception, for it is deceiving. Some people guard against deception by isolation, but isolation is a tell tale sign you are deceived. One opinion, one persons thoughts, cannot reveal the full picture of any truth. Which is why isolation enhances deception and keeps people isolated.

Another tactic to ward off deception is distrust. People who do not trust other people, hear others say they are not trustworthy, that person cannot be trusted for this or that reason. Listen they said this or look at they did that. Distrust is a form of deception, because without trust you cannot know truth, which means you are deceived.

Deception was the first weapon the enemy used in the garden. Eve was deceived. Paul even says that as well, it was not the man who was deceived it was the woman who was deceived. This is not a gender issue, this is a reality of humanity, people are easily deceived.

Unsealed emotional wounds are access points for deception to enter in. We are vulnerable to deception when we are unhealed. Which is why we isolate, don’t trust people and remain deceived. But deception is easy to spot because it is always a counterfeit to what is truth.

In the case of Eve in the garden, the serpent said what God said, but added the words, did God really say? Don’t you realize you will be like God and God doesn’t want you like Him. Deception. The truth was she was created in the image and likeness of God. (Genesis 1-3)

Proverbs picks up on this in chapter 5 saying, “For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.” Deception looks like truth, honey, oil, but it is not the initial situation which is sweet, it is the long term effects which is bitterness.

The fruit of deception will always make you angry, bitter, unforgiving, resentful, distant, cold. Deceptions two edged sword cuts you and others. But truth sets you free, brings you into community, heals wounds, and truths two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) does precision surgery on your soul for your liberation. Love truth and be free. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org