Don’t Be Deceived!

A man snorkeling in the Colorado River near the Arizona and California border made an alarming discovery.   As he was looking around at the contents of the river he discovered two skeletons sitting in lawn chairs about 40 feet underwater!

The man called the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office to report his find.  The Sheriff’s Office investigated.  They discovered that the skeletons were fake and had been placed in the water to appear as if they were sitting together enjoying what the sheriff’s office lightheartedly called a “tea party.”

The skeletons were seen wearing sunglasses.  The lawn chairs were anchored to some large rocks.  A sign on one of the skeletons had the date of Aug. 16, 2014 written on it – a date possibly determining when the skeletons were placed in the river.

"I don't think they were trying to set up anything to scare anyone. I think they were gonna try to be funny," Lt. Curtis Bagby said.

One lesson we can learn from this occasion is: “Do not be deceived!”

God’s Word contains several warnings about the possibility and danger of being deceived.  Here is one of those warnings:

“⁹Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NASB).

“Do not be deceived,” the Apostle Paul was warning, “sin will keep you out of heaven!”  Our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and places us on the path of eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 6:23).

Some may “make light” of sin.  Do not be deceived!  Sin is deadly and destructive!

But do not be deceived: one CAN be forgiven of one’s sins and -- through Christ – enter heaven one day!

After the Apostle Paul warned about the destructiveness of sin, he also reminded the Christians in Corinth:  “Such WERE some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11 NASB).

God will save and give eternal life to those who will place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

Don't be deceived!  Sin is a serious matter.  But God is also "serious" about forgiveness!  God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us so that through His atoning sacrifice we can be washed, sanctified, and justified!

Won't YOU accept His offer on His terms?                                                                    – David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from Fox News – www.foxnews.com