Colossians 2:6–12 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. ⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. ⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹ In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Ever been deceived? There are various levels of deception. I don’t mean just falling for a prank, but I’m talking about a deception that had a serious impact on your life. It might have cost you a lot of money or a relationship. How did you feel when you discovered the truth? It hurts. It makes you angry. It makes you cry. I get especially angry at those who prey on the elderly and swindle them out of their savings. Deception can be devastating.

Paul warns the followers of Jesus to watch out:  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. There are so many empty and false teachings in our world today that try to divert our attention away from the truth of God’s Word. They have always been around, but with all the technology and the competition among the media to get followers, they has been a proliferation of highlighting every perversion there is. And of course, you are told you must be accepting of these perversions or you are vilified.

I remember back in the 70s all the people who said, “We’re not going to force any religion on our child. We’ll let them decide for themselves.”  How’s that working out? It was a tool of Satan, the great deceiver, to steer people away from Jesus.

“We need to let children self-identify their gender rather than imposing a view on them.” All through history there has only been male and female. Sure, there has also been those who have same-sex attraction, but that does not change their gender. The world would have you believe that you can choose your gender. I saw an ad last week for a new show that features cross-dressing pre-teens.

Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940, deliberately destroying — or even disturbing — a bald eagle’s egg or nest carries a $100,000 fine and a sentence of up to a year in prison for a first offense, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Yet an unborn child in a mother’s womb is repeatedly called a “lump of cells” and has no protection under our laws. Yes, Roe v. Wade was overturned, but now Pro-Abortion activists are finding ways to make sure that abortions will still be available.

Deceitful lies are all around us. That is why we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus. And I’m not talking about just following some great guy and good teacher. He was and is God Himself who took on human flesh and lived among us. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. The miracle of the incarnation simply described. The God of creation came down here to rescue the fallen crown of His creation and give them forgiveness and life. He did that by sacrificing Himself to pay for mankind’s sin. The one who is fully God and fully man gives us everything we need: …you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. You and I need to be filled with the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. We need to be filled with God’s Word so that we are not taken in by the deceptions of this world, the Devil and our own sinful desires. Be filled with God’s promises, His forgiveness, and the life He gives you now and forever.