Perhaps the main reason why believers become deceived is they are trying to find some way around their personal cross. They just cannot believe that the Lord would deny them something they desire so fervently. Not realizing mankind and the earth are still under the Divine curse, they attempt to make a paradise of their present circumstances instead of looking for the Kingdom of God to come in the future. They are not willing to look past the grave for the fulfillment of their dreams.

The Lord Jesus told us to take up our cross and follow Him. He said that no man can be His disciple apart from forsaking the world and all he holds dear.

The Christian must, of course, diligently fulfill all his family obligations. The believer who in a fit of religious fanaticism hides himself from his own flesh and blood, not fulfilling his obligations to his family, will not be blessed by the Lord.

The Lord Jesus was speaking rather of the individual who does not in faithfulness follow after Him in self-denial. He or she is not worthy of the Lord and cannot be His disciple.

We see instances in the churches where a woman will leave her family and run off with a new husband who is "more spiritual." Sometimes a man who is a believer will take up with a woman, also a believer, being under the delusion that he no longer loves his wife but is willing to support her and the children. He thinks he can still serve the Lord after betraying those who trusted him.

There is a lot of this today. The believers have not always been taught that the Lord Jesus is not willing to bear the cross alone. There is a cross for you and there is a cross for me. If we are unwilling to carry it, we cannot possibly avoid being deceived.

The personal cross of the believer is his strongest defense against deception.

How many Christians do you know who are carrying their cross behind the Master? They and they alone are the true Christians. The remainder are susceptible to deception because they do not receive the love of the truth. In fact, God Himself shall deceive them.

If we would know the truth we must do what Christ has said. We must present our physical body a living sacrifice to the Lord, waiting on His will each day of our life. When we do not present our body a living sacrifice we make ourselves vulnerable to the deceptions of the enemy and God Himself sends delusion on us because of our turning away from the truth.

The way of deception is warm, inviting, beautiful, presenting all sorts of fleeces to assure you that you are doing the Lord's will. But it leads to the house of death.

The way of the cross is bleak, forbidding, ugly, tearing at the soul. But it leads through gates of splendor.

Which way will you take? (from Buying the Truth)