Honesty seems like the best policy, except when evaluating self. For when it comes to self, something in us will not allow us to judge, critique ourselves fairly. We are tempted to grade ourselves on a curve. The balancing scale of judgment always weighs more heavily on the “good” side of us. Somehow we rationalize that our good works always outweigh the bad that we do. Besides, in comparison to others who are murders, adulterers, thieves, our little sins aren’t even worthy of mentioning. However, when we begin to compare ourselves to the perfection, holiness and goodness of God, we realize like the Prophet Isaiah and Apostle Paul, what wretched people we are. It’s only when we make God the bull’s-eye, we can truly see how much we miss the mark.
Self-deception is a dangerous threat to our Christian life on earth and to our eternal future. On earth because self deception can have us accepting our ungodly, unrighteous, sinful lifestyles, that lead to severe consequences, including physical death. Our eternal future because being deceived can result in a false sense of assurance in our relationship with Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:21-23). Normally when we speak of deception, we refer to someone else who has deceived us. But, in self-deception, the deceiver is self, and the deceived is self. Tragically, we are always unaware that we have deceived ourselves. Although others may tell us or warn us that we are deceived, we can’t recognize it. In some instances our friends, family, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ can show us the error of our ways in Scripture, and we refute, refuse or flat out deny it. We make excuses, our favorites being “don’t judge me”, “God knows my heart” and “God still working on me”, all to justify our sinfulness. Our emotions start ruling our logic and what we know to be truth about Scripture. The conviction we once felt, is no longer present. We don’t see anything wrong with going to church Sunday after Sunday, Bible study after Bible study, hearing message after message, but yet living a habitual lifestyle of sin. Self-deceptions says, YOLO (you only live once) so live it up and do whatever makes you happy, fulfill all your worldly desires, because God loves you and no matter what you do, you will still go to heaven. If this is our mindset we must ask ourselves if we truly love God and have the Holy Spirit in us.
To guard ourselves against self-deception an honest evaluation of our character, motives, desires, and our lifestyle is required. The Bible gives us clear instructions on how we can prevent being self-deceived. We are instructed to 1- be DOERS of the Word, not just hearers (James 1:22), 2- admit and confess our sins (1 John 1:8-9), 3- do not practice or have a lifestyle of sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:16, 19-21), 4- accept correction and wise counsel (Proverbs 9:9, 10:17), and 5- be a truth seeker and accept the truth of God’s Word ( 2 Timothy 3:16; 1Thessalonians 2:13).
Our salvation even requires us to be truthful and honest with self and admit that we are a sinner (Romans 3:10; 3:23; 10:9). May the Lord reveal to us the true condition of our hearts, so that we may know if we truly have a relationship with Him, or if we are just offering Him lip service. May the Lord our eyes to see and our ears to hear. May we all seek to know the truth, for it is the truth that sets us free ( John 8:32).
Your Sister in Christ,
Kesha Griffin