Do Not Be Deceived - Part 2
Do Not be Deceived – Part 2
Many years ago, I had a dream that I will never forget, and it changed my way of thinking about the most important person in my life, Jesus Christ.
At this point in my life, I had been a professing Christian for around 10 years. I had believed that I was one of his sheep. I was baptized. I went to church. I was involved in service work. I was doing my best to check all the boxes. I was in for a rude awakening that I can only describe as divine intervention.
I can’t remember the exact day and year this dream took place, but the message was clear.
To give a little context, I am going to introduce you to my 2 best friends from my youth. We are still good friends to this day. I am changing their names for the sake of privacy.
I met John and Philip when I was 14 and we became fast friends doing everything together. Where one was, the others were not far away. John was a very steady, thoughtful, and wise person. He was always the voice of reason in our group and typically kept us from getting in more trouble than we would’ve without his influence. Philip and I were more lightning and thunder, loud and destructive. We could be very rebellious, reckless, and careless.
John was a follower of the Lord. Looking back, I could see how that played out in his decision making. Philip and I said we followed the Lord, yet we still wanted to have our cake and eat it too so to speak. So, we were led by our flesh, and we were not good ambassadors of who we called Lord.
Now that you have a little background for the 2 people that make cameos in my dream, we can dive in.
In the dream John, Philip, and myself are playing golf together, which was something we did often. Now mind you this dream takes place years later from our youth days; we are all in our mid 20’s at this point in time. Outside it begins to turn gloomy and I am in a sand pit, which is right on par with how I typically played. As I looked up take my shot, John and Philip were standing to the right of the hole and I could see the sky becoming full of dark clouds. It was like there was something above the clouds illuminating the atmosphere with a fire like glow and yet still dark. I glanced down for a moment and back up to notice that John had vanished. It was just Philip and I; we were stunned. A feeling of despair came over me and then I woke up.
Now I am not married to a certain eschatological view, and at this time in my walk, I would not have known there were different views, but I did know that there was going to be a separating of those who are true followers of Christ and everyone else. This dream haunted me, so I began to read my Bible in the first book of the New Testament. I reach Matthew 7:21-23
“Not Everyone who says to me,’ Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who
does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we
not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in
your name?’ And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers
of lawlessness.”
I immediately realized that I was in danger of being one of those whom He says those dreadful words, “I never knew you, depart from me.” The fear of the Lord was now in me.
I believe this was a prophetic dream for me, which started me on the road to discover what God’s truth is, which has been revealed to us through His Son, and is being made clear by His Holy Spirit and through the inspired writings which we call the Bible.
In a way, the scales had fallen from my eyes, and I was seeing the scriptures in a whole new way and with a reverence that I did not have before. That day the word of God cut me to the heart, and like those listening to the sermon Peter preached at Pentecost, I asked what shall I do?
I repented of my unfaithfulness to God just as those who heard of their transgression had done that day and asked His forgiveness and for His Holy Spirit to guide me in this journey. It has been over 10 years since I had that dream, it has not been an easy road, I have not been a good servant of the Lord, and I have not stopped trying. I continue to grow and stumble forward towards the Celestial City to which my heavenly dwelling awaits. I am not assured of this because of anything that I do or have done or will do, but that which has been done by my Lord and his promises for those who love him.
Why do I say all this?
I believe there are many people who are deceived just as I was. Many people who are in danger of hearing those dreadful words on that day they stand face to face with the Lord.
Some people think it is wrong to call out false teaching publicly. I don’t think that is what we see in the scriptures, and so I am going to continue to do so with love and kindness towards those who are being deceived.
As for those who are the deceivers, my hope is that they will turn from their wrong teaching, repent and teach as they are instructed by the Holy Scriptures. The eternal consequences of both teaching and believing a false gospel is unbearable and I don’t wish anyone should have to suffer it.
“For a time is coming when people will no longer endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son who came here in the flesh, born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, was buried in a tomb, rose on the 3rd day and WILL return to judge the living and the dead.
He did not some to give you increase in worldly things, he did not come so you could fulfill your destiny, he did not come to show you your true potential, He came to pay a debt that you owed and couldn’t pay.
I do not believe these things to be true based on my experience, rather I believe them because my experience led me to the truth revealed in the Word. My experience testifies of the truth.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test all spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone into the world.” 1 John 1:1-2
Don’t take my word for it, I am just A No Good Theologian.
