Self-delusion
Text: JEREMIAH 37:1-21
“Thus saith the Lord; Deceive not yourselves...” (Jeremiah 37:9).
Many people think today that their action or inaction will attract no consequence. That is wishful thinking. Sometimes, when people have a relief from a negative situation, they think that is the end of it and begin to rejoice instead of using the period to put their life in order.
This was the situation of the people of Judah during the reign of Zedekiah and the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah. God has given Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon power over Judah because the people would not accept God’s word from Jeremiah.
They hoped that Pharaoh would deliver them. God’s word to them was, “deceive not yourselves.” God said, the Chaldeans will destroy Judah and the people must become their captives. They sought for God’s mind, but they were not willing to do it.
This is the attitude of many people today. When God demands repentance, they refuse and engage in self-delusion. They go about working out their own righteousness. They get involved in religious rituals, attend religious meetings, pretend to be seeking God while indeed they do not care about His will.
We cannot hide from God. Our secret activities are open to Him. Jonah felt his running away to Tarshish would hide him from God but he was wrong; the eyes of the Lord run to and fro the whole world. Let’s not deceive ourselves.
Thought for today: Self-deception leads to eternal ruin.