Picking up, more or less, where I left off in my last post, I’m getting ready to start the “what if.” I hope you’ll join me in the effort.
I mentioned many of our kids are turning away from the belief systems they were taught at home. They have altered their views on abortion, critical race theory, climate change, sex outside of marriage, and socialism, to name just a few. There is one more we need to examine.
Do you know any kids brought up in the church where prayer, Sunday School, worship service, and teen service projects were part of their lives? Do you know any of them who have dropped by the wayside? When your child left for college, did that relationship with God stay behind? It’s happening a lot!
Let’s tie that God-aversion syndrome to what we learned last week about how Google can subliminally change how we think. We only looked at the effect on elections then, but this is where the “what if” clicks in. We read in Revelation 20:8, “He will go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth.” Let us consider the possibility that Google is cunningly seeking to change how we think about God.
What if, not just our kids, but any of us can be subliminally led away from belief in God? Let’s suppose that could happen. Why would anyone, such as Google, want to waste the time and money to do it?
Because socialism and communism and Marxism cannot co-exist with a God-loving, God-honoring society!
So, yes. There is definitely a reason why someone would want to drive people away from faith in Jesus Christ as
their savior. And if they had the capability of doing it without anyone realizing their mind was being transformed—subliminally—during their everyday activity using the Internet, why wouldn’t they? No battles to fight. No wars to wage. Just everyone coming over to their way of thinking like a bunch of zombies!
Now, if you can see that is a possibility, let’s take a look at what God’s Word says. In my first post of September, I ended with the thought that many of us have: we are in the last days of the last days. God tells us that no one will know the exact day or time, but we should be alert and prepared.
Because many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will deceive many people. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because all these things must happen; but that is not yet the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:5-7 (Emphasis mine.)
My thought is that the part about “saying, ‘I am the Christ’” does not necessarily refer to using that title or even claiming to be God. Instead, think of it as some belief you should follow, rather than your faith in Christ Jesus. It seems to me that through subliminal messages about alternative beliefs, we could be led astray without even knowing we are turning our backs on God. We could be deceived! Then as wars, famines, and earthquakes occur, we will no longer turn to our God for relief, or comfort, or protection, or strength to endure disasters and persevere in our faith. Luke warns us in chapter 21:8, “He said, ‘Watch out so that you are not deceived!’”
With that thought, we need to apply the passages below (taken from the English Heritage Version.) In all cases, the emphases are mine.
While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?” Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Matthew 24:3-4
Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11
For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive even the elect, if it were possible. Matthew 24:24
But God’s people have been warned about deceivers long before we heard it from the lips of Jesus. Such deceivers and deceptions troubled God’s people in ancient times. Daniel prophesied in chapter 8:24-26,
His power will be very great, but not from his own power. He will destroy wonderful things, and he will succeed in doing this. He will destroy mighty men and the people of the saints. Through his cunning, he will deceive in order to succeed by his power and will also exalt himself in his heart. He will destroy many who are at ease, and he will rise up against the Prince of Princes. However, he will be broken, but not by human power.
As was evident in Jesus’ own words, Satan will not relent, and similar deceptions will confront the children of God today.
The thought going through the minds of many reading this may be, “I’d never let that happen. No one could control my thinking through using Google or something similar.” God knew you might feel that way, and so we read in 1 Corinthians 3:18-19, “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this world, let him become a fool so that he may become wise. To be sure, the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness.’”
So where is our hope? Can we even have hope? Yes, we can. God promises that. In my next post, I will go into what we can do to keep the faith!
This information is puzzling and could be concerning. The only way I know how to spot deception is to know the real truth, the Bible, and continue to set my mind on its truths. Romans 8 is a guide for me. In that chapter I’m instructed to set my mind on things of the Spirit, not things of the world. I need to do that daily, although some days I don’t focus on what it is that pleases the Holy Spirit so I will do it. Thanks for this post and this information, Betty.