A REMEDY FOR DECEPTION
2 Timothy 3:13-17 NKJV
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Paul pulled no punches with Timothy. Meaning he did not sugarcoat the truth of what Timothy could expect in the days ahead. Paul's words were true in Timothy's day and even more relevant today.
Evil men and imposters are not going away. They deceive others and are deceived themselves. We have seen this truth play out in our day in big ways. I believe the internet which has been extremely instrumental in spreading the truth of the gospel has also been instrumental in spreading deception. We have seen an escalation of deception. So what can we do about it?
Paul did not instruct Timothy to get angry and fight back at the darkness and deception. Paul had already given Timothy a pattern of how and who to pray for. It seems that Paul is guiding his young protege along the lines of what to do to guard against deception in his personal life. Continue, stay, stick with what you have learned. Knowing from whom you have learned them. Paul's charge to Timothy was to stay with what he had been taught by Paul. Timothy knew Paul and his life's example. So Timothy could be assured that what he had learned from Paul was legit.
Paul referenced Timothy back to the scriptures. Timothy had been brought up in a home with a Jewish mother and grandmother who had become believers. These were women of faith who greatly influenced Timothy and taught him the scriptures. It would be these scriptures that would give wisdom, leading to salvation through faith in Jesus. The scriptures give wisdom, faith, and salvation from deception.
Timothy was reminded of the truth and God-breathed nature of the scriptures. The word for inspiration is literally God-breathed. And anything that God breathes on is profitable for teaching, conviction, correction, and training in right living. God's Word will mature and equip an individual for good works.
The message to Timothy was to be aware of the evil and deception but not to be afraid or shrink back from what he had been taught by Paul. And the key answer to counteract deception was knowing what he had been taught, coupled with a firm adherence to the scriptures. The scriptures would keep Timothy on the right path. Timothy was blessed to have been mentored by Paul. And Timothy was blessed to have been brought up in the scriptures. Timothy had no need to be afraid as long as he stayed with what had been put into his life.
APPLICATION
The same things that kept Timothy safe from deception are the same principles that protect us today. We must continue in what we have been taught and know the ones who have taught us. Enter the local church where lives and examples can be observed and validated.
And stay with the scriptures, which are still able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus. We looked to Him for the salvation of our spirits and we continue to look to Him to deliver us from the evil in the world today. God's Word is God speaking to us today, and it still is profitable to teach, correct, convict, and train us in living for God. God's Word is truth, and the more we know the truth, the more freedom we have from deception.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for Your word of truth and the Spirit of truth that lives in me. By Your grace and help, I will not be deceived in these last days.