You Cannot Deceive God
Many in the past have and many today continue to disobey the Word of God. This they do thinking all is well in their spiritual lives.
However, King Saul, in 1 Samuel 15, was told by God to go and destroy the Amalekites. But, contrary to the command of God, Saul chose to spare the king, Agag, and the best of the sheep and oxen. When confronted by the prophet Samuel, Saul blamed it on the people. Because of this disobedience, God rejected Saul as king—God considered Saul as rebellious (verse 23).
In Leviticus 10, Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron the High Priest, were commanded by God to use certain fire in their duties as priests. But they chose to use fire “...which he had not commanded them” (verse 1). They were consumed by fire from the Lord.
One can read of the deception of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. They sold a certain possession to help the poor of Jerusalem. They decided to hold back part of the selling price. This was not a sin in and of itself but they then lied to God about the selling price. This cost them their lives (verses 5, 10).
In all three of the above examples, people were trying to deceive God. Incidents such as these are exactly what Paul was addressing when he wrote to Titus, “To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:15-16).
Many people today are religious. However, they are involved in religions not authorized by Jehovah God. Many are members of denominations (See 1 Corinthians 1:10) which do not wholly follow the Word of God but in their work and worship of God do those things that they feel are good and right. They follow the traditions of men. But how does this differ from the cases above? Saul, Nadab and Abihu, and Ananias and Sapphira all did what they felt was good and right. As Jehovah displayed His wrath to these, so will He display His wrath to all that are disobedient in the Day to come.
God knows all of our thoughts. “Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity” (Psalm 94:11). Also, man cannot think for God! “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they transgressed the commandments of God by their tradition (Matthew 15:1-9).
God demands respect for all of His all authoritative, all sufficient, written Word. Please find a church of Christ near you today and ask the members to help you to study and know God’s Holy Word. Do not be like Saul, Nadab and Abihu, and Ananias and Sapphira. Obey the Word of God completely and make your entrance into the Everlasting Kingdom sure (2 Peter 1:1-11). You cannot deceive God.
However, King Saul, in 1 Samuel 15, was told by God to go and destroy the Amalekites. But, contrary to the command of God, Saul chose to spare the king, Agag, and the best of the sheep and oxen. When confronted by the prophet Samuel, Saul blamed it on the people. Because of this disobedience, God rejected Saul as king—God considered Saul as rebellious (verse 23).
In Leviticus 10, Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron the High Priest, were commanded by God to use certain fire in their duties as priests. But they chose to use fire “...which he had not commanded them” (verse 1). They were consumed by fire from the Lord.
One can read of the deception of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. They sold a certain possession to help the poor of Jerusalem. They decided to hold back part of the selling price. This was not a sin in and of itself but they then lied to God about the selling price. This cost them their lives (verses 5, 10).
In all three of the above examples, people were trying to deceive God. Incidents such as these are exactly what Paul was addressing when he wrote to Titus, “To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:15-16).
Many people today are religious. However, they are involved in religions not authorized by Jehovah God. Many are members of denominations (See 1 Corinthians 1:10) which do not wholly follow the Word of God but in their work and worship of God do those things that they feel are good and right. They follow the traditions of men. But how does this differ from the cases above? Saul, Nadab and Abihu, and Ananias and Sapphira all did what they felt was good and right. As Jehovah displayed His wrath to these, so will He display His wrath to all that are disobedient in the Day to come.
God knows all of our thoughts. “Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity” (Psalm 94:11). Also, man cannot think for God! “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they transgressed the commandments of God by their tradition (Matthew 15:1-9).
God demands respect for all of His all authoritative, all sufficient, written Word. Please find a church of Christ near you today and ask the members to help you to study and know God’s Holy Word. Do not be like Saul, Nadab and Abihu, and Ananias and Sapphira. Obey the Word of God completely and make your entrance into the Everlasting Kingdom sure (2 Peter 1:1-11). You cannot deceive God.