Lesson 12
When going to an illusionist show being tricked or fooled into believing something not real, is real, is part of the fun. If you don’t know how or when the tricky sleight of hand takes place, it’s almost impossible to know that you are being fooled. Entertainers Penn and Teller are famous for revealing how some of their illusions are performed. Seeing how a trick is performed, makes understanding why the illusion works, plain to see.
When it came to religious beliefs, the Bereans knew the best way not to be fooled was to study the word of God open-mindedly. Religiously, most people don’t want to be fooled. God’s plan for salvation can be found if you use discernment when reading the Bible. Not being misled by blind teachers, requires searching the scriptures open-mindedly and being aware of the tricks and lies of Satan.
Acts 17:11 New Living Translation
11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
Matthew 15:14 Common English Bible
14 Leave the Pharisees alone. They are blind people who are guides to blind people. But if a blind person leads another blind person, they will both fall into a ditch.”
Satan lied to Eve in the garden of Eden, and believing that tricky lie has taken humanity down the wrong path from the beginning, away from understanding God’s salvation plans. Believing humans are immortal and that their souls need to dwell somewhere after the body dies, can make God’s plans of resurrection seem foolish.
Genesis 3:3-5 King James Version
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Satan’s lie that Eve wound’t die, was mixed with the truth that eating from the tree of knowledge would let Adam and Eve choose for themselves good and evil. Most of humanity’s eyes have been closed to Satan’s lie that they are immortal. Should we believe Satan? How does believing Satan lead people away from God? Does God lie? What should you believe so you are not fooled?