Always Be On Guard

Reporting on the recent California fires, the Tribune News Service reported on the need for discernment regarding people who were using deception to try and infiltrate burned out areas for the purpose of looting.

When officials saw Dustin Nehl pull up to one of the burned-out areas from the Los Angeles Palisades fire, they were tempted to wave him through. Nehl was driving a full-size red fire truck with California plates and American flag decals and was wearing bright yellow fire gear.

But a firefighter at the checkpoint noticed something amiss and urged one of the sheriff deputies to check his identification. A background check quickly revealed Nehl’s criminal history, which included a five-year stint in prison for arson. A check of his truck revealed tools that could potentially be used in a burglary. And according to a source within the department, the truck had since been decommissioned from service from a Northern California fire department 30 years prior.

Nehl, along with his wife Jennifer, were arrested on suspicion of impersonating firefighters and unauthorized entry of an evacuation zone. Nehl was not alone in his attempt to impersonate emergency personnel. The week prior, police arrested a man wearing a yellow firefighter’s outfit and carrying a radio. Prosecutors later announced charges for receiving stolen property, impersonating a firefighter, unlawful use of a badge, and unauthorized entry of a closed disaster area. LAPD chief Jim McDonnell said, “We have people who will go to all ends to do what they do.”

In a similar way the Bible urges us to be on guard against those who would try to deceive us by masquerading as angels of light. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 Paul writes, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

So how can we be better equipped to discern those who speak truth and those who twist truth in order to deceive? Here are a few steps to develop deeper discernment…

1. Be filled with the Holy Spirit… allow Him to preside over your life not just reside in your life. Surrender each day to His leadership allowing His ruling presence to enlighten your heart, mind, and soul with the truth.

2. Be full of the Scriptures… let the word of God act as a filter to the teaching and the information that flows through your life. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

3. Be Obedient to the Word of God… it is not enough to simply know the scriptures. Acting upon what we know is the catalyst that distinguishes truth from error. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:22–25)

These three steps, among others, will help build spiritual discernment in your life and protect you from the deception of our arch enemy the devil whose mission is to steal, kill, and destroy you (John 10:10).

And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray

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