Is there a Fog of Deception Clouding our Faith?

 

The front porch of our cabin is one of my favorite places to relax, drink coffee and commune with God. Our log cabin sits up high and we have a great view of the valley and a mountain range. On a recent trip, I was sitting out on the porch after a thunderstorm, and in the distance I could see fog rolling in, slowly filling in the valley. It was a soft, subtle movement of mist and I was unaware of how it was infiltrating because it was so gradual, but in a matter of minutes the fog had covered the distant mountains and valley. It was beautiful and mystical. I had to pause and observe the swirling dance of the low cloud.

As I watched the transformation I was made aware of a life application. It made me think of times in life when we can be caught unaware because changes are so gradual. The proverbial frog in hot water story comes to mind. Bad habits can come on so subtly.  Wrong mindsets can creep in without us being aware. 

When we apply this to our spiritual walk, do the things of this world cloud our vision of God, His Kingdom and who we are in Him? Do we allow the world to slowly infiltrate and influence our beliefs and behaviors?

When cultural norms slowly shift do we become desensitized over time? Do social norms cloud our vision of what the word of God says?

I am not here to promote legalism or any political agenda. The reason I write this is because I am checking my own heart. Being a person of faith, the only thing I have to live by, is the teaching of Jesus. I want to constantly be on guard for ways that the enemy may try to distort truth. I want to remain sharp and watchful, discerning when something feels off. I want to measure my heart, actions and attitudes by the ways of Jesus, not by the ways of society.

I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit who can speak to us and guide us into being more Christ-like and to keep us from naively following ideologies that could subtly lead us down wrong paths. Satan is the great deceiver. He isn’t always blatant. He is cunning, sly and crafty. He works in subtle ways. This is why it’s so important to be grounded in the word so we can distinguish what is of God and what is not of God. Without the word we can drift to society norms, or “feel-good” Christianity and live in a fog of deception.

Lord, remove any shroud that we may have over our eyes that keeps us from seeing your truth.

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:12.