This Elder Has Been A Deceiver!

"And Jesus Answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5).

Hello To All:

Our previous two essays, helped us to grow in our understanding, regarding our capacity to be deceived, as well as our capacity to be as one who is a deceiver. It is not in our fallen nature to want to consider such possibilities. But, if we are to make progress as "Victorious Disciples In Jesus Christ," then it is essential that we recognize our own sinful capacities. The cry of the publican (Luke 18:10-14): "God be merciful to me a sinner," should ever be on our lips and in our hearts.

At the close of our last essay, I was compelled to commit myself to testifying with regards to a time when our Lord Jesus Christ was compelled to expose me as a deceiver. There was a time, when my willingness to consider the possibility that I was in error or a deceiver, was not even close to a reality. I was strident and arrogant with regards to what I believed was the truth. In those first few years, following my conversion to Jesus Christ, I had embraced the thinking and actions of a certain institutional/denominational perspective. I was one of those who said, and often said, that we are right and the rest of you (meaning Christians of other institutional perspectives) were wrong.

As the years pass, I have become more and more deeply aware of how merciful and loving our Creator is. As I look back on those early years, I can now recognize the merciful hand of our Lord Jesus Christ, guiding and directing my life; pushing me here and prodding me there; always seeking to draw me closer to the Truth and to His Way. Through these many decades (the fall of 1982 marks the season of my conversion to Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, The Son of The Living God), the pushing and the prodding has continued; sometimes gently; and, on occasion, not so gently.

In the fall of 2006, I was invited to help out with the preaching at a mission station in a larger city, some 30 miles from the place where my family and I live. Of all the ways, that our Lord Jesus Christ, has equipped me to serve Him, the preaching of His Word is a very special privilege for me; and so, I said yes, believing that God had opened up this opportunity. I was to share the preaching responsibilities with one other man. A few months later, this man moved to another part of the country and the full time task of preaching was placed before me. I embraced the task with eagerness and a desire to help others to: "grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18).

Things seemed to be going well. This was a small mission station; but services were well attended. Those who attended, were interested in an understanding of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus we often talked about healing, deliverance from demonic influence, the importance of faith and believing and the spiritual empowerment that can only come from Jesus Christ.

As I look back, I am reminded of how quickly we are willing to embrace the idea that all is well and that the teaching and the preaching, that we are a part of, is right in harmony with the Scriptures. This is true for both the preacher and those who are receiving the preaching. We all like to believe that all is well. This is how it was, in this little mission station, in this larger city, some thirty miles from my families dwelling place; and I thought: all is well.

Then, in the spring of 2007, things changed, in a very dramatic fashion.  My wife and I, are supported in the mission work that God sets before us, through God's provision, that comes to us through the labors of our own hands. From time to time, God does raise up someone who helps us in our journey; and for this, we are very thankful. But, for the most part, God has purposed for us to be working missionaries; and for this, we are also very thankful. Thus, during this time frame, when I was preaching in this larger city, I was also working, in this same city, in a factory as a skilled laborer.

The change began, early on a Wednesday morning. I had just arrived for work; and was getting out of my car. As I began to exit the vehicle, I was struck by a pain in my lower back (I do not have and never have had any kind of significant back problems). The pain was so severe, that it almost overwhelmed me. As soon as the pain struck, in the same instant, I knew, with absolute certainty, that the pain was sent by God. I did not know the reason for the pain; but, I was certain of its source; and, in this, I was comforted.

But, this was a work day; and I needed to work. I managed, only by the grace of God, to get out of my vehicle, into the factory and to my work station. Each step was incredibly painful; and, by the time I got to my work station, I realized that there was not any way, that I could do the work that was required of me. I spoke to my supervisor; and he told me to go home. Thus, I retraced each painful step back to my car. There was no lessening of the pain. But, in the midst of the pain, Jesus Christ empowered me to drive the 30 plus miles back to my home and to my family. I spent most of the next two and one half days in a chair with my bible opened in my lap and my focus on Jesus Christ and what he was seeking to teach me.

When next we gather, I shall, with God's help, finish this story and the testimony of how our Lord Jesus Christ, used the pain to expose the reality, that I was deceiving many (at the mission station); and, how He also used the pain, to change my life. Thank you Jesus. Amen and Amen and Amen!

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be,

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus