Day 5 of Illumination: Deception enters by means of a wedge.

“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭16:17-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Old school key rings have been the destruction of many otherwise lovely manicures. Now, whereas I have rarely had lovely nails, I have lost quite a few of them (or portions of the same) to this type of key ring. You know the ones: it’s a circle made of an overlapping, flat, tightly coiled piece of metal. Keys are “threaded” between the two coils and then turned on the ring. Then, presto, the key is on the ring. Actually, this type of key ring is very efficient at keeping keys together without them falling off.

However, this rose has a big thorn. Problem is, generally, in order for the key to start being threaded between the coils, some other object must first be inserted to widen the space between the coils. Only then, can the key get started in. Ah! Bring in the handy dandy all purpose tool known as the fingernail. Sadly, more often than not, the fingernail becomes a casualty in the process. But, the purpose is served, having pried the coils apart enough to allow the insertion of the key.

Now, the best tool for prying two things apart, is actually not the fingernail, but rather, a wedge.

A wedge is a tool made of any number of sturdy materials that has a thick edge tapering to a thin edge. Sometimes the thin edge is sharpened (think ax head) so as to facilitate the process of separation.

One of the most adept at using the wedge is the spirit of deception. The spirit of deception uses some “thin edge” to breach the resolve or defenses of the targeted heart and mind in order to enter in.

There are several thin edges used by deception in order to produce a gap where the lie can be inserted. Among the most popular thin edges used by deception are affection, hurt, entertainment, cravings, weariness or fear.

A common denominator among all of these thin edges is that they override the defense reaction of our inner man. Sadly, even people filled with the Holy Spirit can fall prey to deception if something is a sharp enough edge to cause us to not hear the Holy Spirit or to somehow override what He is saying to us.

“But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:14-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the above scripture James is admonishing Christians for allowing selfish ambition to become the wedge that expands into confusion and then every evil work.

“You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:7-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭NLT

In the above two references the Apostle Paul is using the metaphor of yeast to illustrate how something can start out very small, yet incorporate itself into the whole mind and spirit.

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We must stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and keep our hearts guarded against any wedges the enemy might use to make us believe or operate according to a lie.

I will end today by noting—as the apostle Paul did in our opening scripture—that smooth talk or flattery can also serve as a wedge for deception.

Remember, the enemy of your soul does not want you to be enlightened by the Lord; he would rather that you be living by his lies. And make no mistake, he will do whatever it takes to be able to thread his lies into your heart and mind.

We light a fifth candle of illumination today by knowing this:

Deception enters by means of a wedge.

#25daysofillumination