Nov 23 2009
Deceived
I woke up at 5 a.m. on a recent morning and I was as angry as a wet hen! I felt so dumb that morning because I had ordered flowers from a company that has three initials in its name. I had ordered the flowers on-line and during the process I noticed some information indicating that I could receive a discount. All I had to do was simply click on a link. Sounded easy enough. It was quite simple until I received my American Express bill!
I looked at my bill and realized that the florist company had signed me up for some bogus membership that essentially costs me $50 a month to “live well and have reservation rewards.” If you have been taken for a ride as I have, don’t just blow it off. Muster up some courage and stand up for your rights. During these tough economic times, we don’t have extra money that we can just throw away, especially when the money could be used to bring honor and glory to God.
Many of us will experience some form of deception in our lifetime, whether it is identity theft or falling victim to a scam. While these experiences are devastating, being deceived by someone proclaiming to be preaching the Word of God is far worse. On the Mount of Olives the disciples asked Jesus what the signs would be of His second coming and the end of the age. We read His response in Matthew 24:4-5:
“Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many.’”
It is imperative in these last days that Christians have a discerning spirit in order to know if a fellow Christian, their pastor or an evangelist are distorting the Word of God or speaking forth the truth.