Deception
Deception seems to be more prevalent today than in times past. Reality is thought to be one thing, but then you discover the reality was tainted by deception. What you think is true is really not true. Deception will ultimately lead to destruction. Truth will ultimately lead to peace.
An article written about Coach Deion Sanders made some very strong statements about his Christian faith. Whenever a person does that, you can get ready for somebody to misuse what he is saying and try to take him down.
On September 26, a Facebook post showed Coach Prime Time talking to a couple of his players. The headline said, “Deion Sanders benched two-star players for kneeling during the national anthem,” which was the text included in the photo.
That statement about Coach Prime Time created quite a controversy. But closer examination revealed that this was not the truth. It was simply a deceptive fabrication. The photo actually was taken when Sanders was coaching at Jackson State—not Colorado, and it was taken in 2021.
The whole question about Deion Sanders benching his two players was on a website that produces a lot of “fake” news. That Facebook post was shared more than 1,000 times in two days. People didn’t realize it was on a link which indicated the pictures and words were not actually true. But few people read the small print.
I was amazed to read that a Mehran’s Steakhouse in New York City received glowing reviews such as, “Best steak I have ever had in New York” and “words cannot explain how phenomenal the steak was.” The problem is that the steak house doesn’t even exist. It started out as a deceptive scam, but people thought it was real.
The actual address for the steak house is East 83rd Street in Manhattan, a four-bedroom “hacker house” where sixteen 20-year-olds live who worked in the tech industry. Some of them slept in closets and on bunk beds. They created a Google listing, which was quite simple, and developed a four-course menu for steak that would cost $115. The site indicated that reservations were necessary. People started making reservations as far as six months in advance.
It was referred to as New York’s hottest steak house—but it was a fake. You wouldn’t think that upstate New Yorkers would be so easily “bunked.”
These are just two examples of many filled with fakes about a philosophy of life that would bring you happiness, joy, and fulfillment—but anything the world offers is ultimately a fake. It might look good for a little while, but it will not last.
The best tool in the Devil’s arsenal is deception. “The Devil deceives the whole world.” (Revelation 12:9) “The Devil prances around like a lion ready to strike unsuspecting prey.” (I Peter 5:8) “See to it that no one take you captive through deception.” (Colossians 2:8)
The Bible reminds us that “you must not be deceived. God is not mocked.” (Galatians 6:7) God is at work in this world. Deception will ultimately be revealed. The Bible is authentic, and God’s truth will prevail.
Do you have a Biblical filter for deception?
