A cursory review of the Bible reveals there are perhaps as many references to deceit as there are to truth. That should not be surprising inasmuch as sin and deceit began in the heavens with Lucifer, son of the morning. He couldn’t deal with the reality that he was a created being.
“For you have said in your heart…‘I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.” Isaiah 14:13-15
Having rebelled against his creator, Satan began his career of deceit when God created man in His own image in the Garden of Eden.
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted…” 2 Corinthians 11:3
Deceit in the scriptures has multiple synonyms such as lie, fraud, trickery, seduce, bait, or guile. Deceit is used to lead one astray, cause to error, or to form a wrong judgment.
All through the ages Satan has been attempting to steer men away from the truth which we have previously defined as God revealed in Jesus the Son. If people believe the lie, they will spend eternity with the deceiver apart from God.
Jesus explained the great deceiver to the Pharisees.
“You are of your father the devil…there is no truth in him…for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44
Inasmuch as Jesus is the truth, there is no deceit in Him as confirmed by Peter.
“(Jesus) Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth…” 1 Peter 2:22
Believers are exhorted not to be deceived.
“…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting…” Ephesians 4:14
“Little children, let no one deceive you…He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.” I John 3:7
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” 2 Peter 2:1-2
Men are also admonished to not participate in deception.
“He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil…lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.”
Proverbs 12:17-22
Jesus warned that deception would increase in the latter days.
“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” Matthew 24:11
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:25
But the fate of the father of lies and all who accept his lies has already been written. The day is coming when Satan will be cast out of heaven permanently.
“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him…”
Revelation 12:7-9
Even after being imprisoned for the 1,000 years that Christ rules from Jerusalem, Satan makes one last futile attempt to deceive the nations.
“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth…” Revelation 20:7-8
His end is swift and permanent.
“The devil, who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:10
Not only will the devil, beast (Antichrist), and false prophet be in the lake of fire, but also those who reject the truth and those who practiced deceit will join them.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving…and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
Therefore, the Bible is once again very succinct. The choice is before every individual, i.e. to believe in and cling to the truth, or deny the truth and accept a lie. Because of the scope of the results of this choice, this decision transcends any other set before man on his pilgrimage on planet earth.
It’s the Biblical version of ‘Truth or Consequences.’
One of the greatest freedoms in America is the freedom to make that monumental decision without duress.