DECEPTION
Two characters in Scripture have the same name but a very different perspective on life and very different destinies. Their names were Saul and Saul. Both were prominent figures in God’s story.

Saul, the first king of Israel, was tall and handsome, a Benjaminite whose father was a wealthy and influential man in his community. Saul was a man of privilege, but he had an unfortunate sense of insecurity which caused him to fear David to the extent that he ordered the murder of an entire priestly family in revenge for helping David.

Saul’s insecurity led him to disobey God on more than one occasion so that God took the kingship away from him, chose David to replace him and had him and all his sons but one killed in battle.

Saul pronounced his verdict on himself when David refused to kill him for the second time, “Surely I have acted like a fool, and I have been terribly wrong.”
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Saul, renamed Paul, was a highly educated Pharisee who had a miraculous encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus. His life was transformed from an arrogant religious fanatic to a humble yet powerful servant of Jesus.

Paul’s verdict, at the end of his life, was vastly different from king Saul’s.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV

What made the difference between these two Sauls?  King Saul lived for the moment and failed to take his future into account. He bought into the devil’s lies. “God doesn’t see; God doesn’t know; God doesn’t care.” Saul played to the people and lost… his kingship, his dynasty, and his life.

Paul, by contrast, played to an audience of one. H;is focus was always on Jesus. His life was centred on pleasing the Lord. He kept his eye on the goal.

“So, whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NLT

So, what is the great deception?

Whom do you believe? Who do you trust? Satan says, “Believe me and don’t take God seriously.” Saul believed the lie, lived for the moment, and lost everything.

Paul believed God and trusted Jesus. He lived today with his eye on tomorrow. He obeyed the Lord because he took Him seriously.

PRAYER

Father God, thank you that you continuously warn us in your Word to be careful of deception. The devil is a deceiver, and he has many people who work for him to spread his deception all over the world.

Please help me and all your people to guard our hearts against deception by reading your Word and believing the truth you Word teaches us about you, us, and the life you want us to live.

Thank you for the Bible. You gave us this book to save us from sin and foolishness when we believe what is written.