Self Deception by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 14, 1862

Self Deception.

By Editor

"BECAUSE thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Rev. iii, 17.

In this text is the plainest declaration of self deception. Those addressed think their condition very good, when in fact it is bad in the extreme. Last week we gave from the Old Testament two cases of self deception which resulted in rebellion. Many more might be given from both the Old and New Testaments. Let us go forward to the judgment, and witness in imagination the disappointment and dismay of the masses of self deceived, when too late for remedy, they learn from Christ their real condition,

Matt. vii, 22, 23. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

In the previous verse our Lord utters a most cutting rebuke on the self deceived.

Verse 21. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Many are satisfied with a superficial work, and say, Lord, Lord, in full confidence of their acceptance, while neglecting to do the will of God. This terrible deception is often made complete and sure by the power of the Devil, inasmuch that the unfortunate victim stands unmoved by Scripture testimony, or touching appeals, or even evident judgments from the hand of God. Such generally start wrong, and in blindness pursue their whole Christian course under a deception as to their condition. But in this very connection our Lord has given an illustration of how men should commence and pursue the Christian journey, also the fatal results of a wrong course.

Verses 24-27. "Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

We see from Rev. iii, 17; Matt. vii, 21-27, that it is possible for men to be laboring under a state of perfect deception as to their standing before God, yet possess a good degree of honesty. It is also evident that in our day, under the deceptive power of the Devil, and the example of the apostate churches, there is a strong tendency of the human mind to self-deception. Then how important that the minister of Jesus Christ should preach the pointed truth, and hold forth to the people those warnings against self-deception in the same forcible style in which he finds them in the Bible. As a faithful watchman he should see the dangers to which the flock are exposed, and fearlessly utter those warnings drawn from the sacred Scriptures which these fearful times demand for the safety of God's people. He who fails to do this—who shuns to give unpleasant testimony because it may offend—who fears, and trembles, and avoids the cross in this respect, may expect an unfaithful watchman's reward.

Ministers and people should cherish an undying love for the pure testimony of God's word. In this there is safety for both ministers and people from the dreadful power of self-deception. Let the dangers to which the people of God are exposed in these last days be faithfully kept before them.

Self-deception, unless removed from the mind, generally results in rebellion. And we are forced to the conclusion in tracing the Bible history of rebellion, that determined and deliberate rebellion is incurable. Individuals may, through a mistaken view of things, and a perverted sympathy, become imbued with the spirit of rebellion which time and events may wear away, and they again stand in the light; but such transitions of the mind impair the judgment, and becloud the discernment in relation to the things of God. Such persons are in greater danger of again drinking in the spirit of rebellion, and need to set a double watch.

But deliberate and determined rebellion has no remedy. That first great rebellion is to cease only by the extermination of Satan and those angels who rebelled and fell with him. The spirit of rebellion that fell upon the children of Israel soon after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt held fast to them. God led them round and round in the wilderness forty years, and manifested to them blessings and judgments to remove this unclean spirit from them, but they would not be corrected. The next morning after the earth opened and swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and those who dared to stand with them, Num. xvi, 23-38, those who appeared loyal the night before broke out in bitterest and most insane rebellion against Moses, saying, "Ye have killed the congregation of the Lord."

That rebellion that the Jewish priests inspired in the hearts of the people against Jesus Christ—the most lovely personage that ever visited this globe—that clamored for his blood in the judgment-hall, has followed and clung to the Jews until this day. And as we look over our short history as a people we may safely say that one-third of those who have from first to last embraced the Sabbath and come among us have fallen under a spirit of rebellion against the work of God in the third message in bringing out and purifying a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Many could not stand the purifying work, and rebelled against it, and the means employed in carrying it forward. When they first rebelled they had no idea that they would give up the Sabbath; but a few weeks, or a few months, or a few years, have found them Sabbath-breakers. And we have yet to learn that one single case of determined rebellion among us has been fully cured. May God save his people from self-deception and rebellion.