BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED

Gal 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

The spiritual truth found in this lesson text must be learned, understood, and believed by every Christian that has the hope of eternal salvation. The truth is that both men and women can, and often are deceived, by themselves as well as others, disbelieving God's holy word, and/or believing error found in the false doctrines of men. An Old Testament example of deception is found in the inspired writings of Jeremiah. Zedekiah, the king of Judah, desired that the prophet, Jeremiah, would petition God that the Chaldeans would be driven from the land of Canaan and never return. However, God had already determined the punishment of Babylonian captivity due to their rebellious unfaithfulness. To believe this could be avoided was mere deception on their part. Jeremiah said to them, Thus saith the Lord; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart (See Jer. 17:1-9). Obadiah, in verse 3, tells us that our own self-pride will cause us to deceive ourselves.

The lesson text tells us that a person can be deceived into thinking that we can mock God. To ridicule, make light of, or to express scorn for God and His commandments for His creation is sheer mockery. The terms scorner or scoffer carries the same meaning as a mocker. To mock God is to show contemptuous disdain and irreverence to His authority. To think otherwise is to deceive oneself with false misconceptions about the omnipotence of our Heavenly Father. To profess to be an obedient child of God and continue to live in sin is to mock God. We deceive ourselves when we expect the reward of eternal life in heaven and still, unrepentantly, justify such sinful actions in our minds.

This is exactly what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. He told them, and in doing so, gives us the same scriptural truth from God today. He wrote, Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Paul continues this lesson on deception to the churches in Galatia by saying, ...for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Herein lies the most important part, the very core, or the essence of the matter regarding this teaching. It is impossible for a man or woman to give themselves totally over to things of the world and still expect to be rewarded with eternal life. All people that think worldliness is the pathway to life everlasting are mocking God and deceiving themselves.

Job realized this godly truth when he said, Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same (Job 4:8). God continually warns us of self-deception throughout His holy word. In other scriptures He tells us that calamity is the fruit of one having frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord (Prov. 6:14-15). An example of good seed and bad seed being sown in found in this passage: The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward (Psalm 11:18). The prophet, Hosea, teaches the same lesson: The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward (Hos. 8:7). He follows this truthful prophetic teaching by saying, Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy (Hos. 10:12).

Who is there that can doubt the true meaning of these passages. To prove this godly teaching, Paul asked the Roman Christians this question about their worldly attitude: (Do you think) that thou shalt escape the judgment of God (Rom. 2:3). He answers this question by telling them, as well as all Christians today, that (God) will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God (Rom. 6:6-11). Christian, know this to be the gospel truth: Be not deceived; God is not mocked!