The Return.12

"Blessed are those servants, 
whom the Lord, 
when he comes, 
finds 
   ready 
      and anticipating 
          his arrival, 
even if he should come in the middle of the night, 
or at dawning of the day.

Truly I say, that he will adorn himself in his banquet clothes, and invite such servants to sit down with him at the table of feasting, rising himself to serve them as honored guests!" 

--Jesus

The greatly anticipated new installment of an old franchise, Star Wars, opened to a record $130 million first day ticket sales! It is projected to gross over $2 billion in sales worldwide by the time it is has run it's theater debut...

Talk about ready and anticipating an arrival!

Although I've never personally camped out in front of a storefront before Black Friday, or a theater anticipating a movie premier, or a ticket office before a concert, I can appreciate that kind of excitement. We do know about being ready and anticipating something for which we have a deep longing, don't we?  Whether a new movie or the birth of a baby, a job promotion, the purchase of a new home or car, it is part of our human experience.

I have, however, experienced the disappointment of underestimating the wonder of an event for which I wasn't earnestly longing; of wishing I'd been more fervent in inviting others to join in that wonder!

Rooted in our human experience are the words Jesus uses to describe the honor bestowed on those who simply live their lives ready and anticipating His return: 

• Blessed
• Servants
• Lord
• Comes
• Ready
• Anticipating
• Midnight
• Dawn
• Adorn
• Banquet Clothes
• Invite
• Table of Feasting
• Rising to Serve
• Honored Guests

 And yet, just as all the treasures of universal wisdom are hidden in Him, so also the full, experiential meaning of this event cannot be fully grasped until that moment in time!  The real question is: will we be dressed in the banquet clothes of deep satisfaction, or the discomfort of disappointment that we weren't nearly as passionate in inviting others to join us in the single most wonder-filled event of all time?

May the worldwide anticipation of a two hour movie pale in comparison of our longing for the return of the Eternal King!

The Return.11

Prepare your heart; 
for in the hour that you least expect it, 
the Son of Man will come.

Hear the story of ten bridesmaids, who carried their lamps out to meet the bridegroom to illuminate the path
of his arrival. This group was comprised of five wise, and five foolish women. Those that were foolish remembered their lamps, but not extra fuel; while the wise carried both their lamps and added fuel. The bridegroom's coming was delayed, and they began to grow tired and fall asleep.

Finally, at midnight, there arose a cry: 
"Behold, the bridegroom approaches! 
The time has come to go out to meet him."

Hurriedly, the bridesmaids began preparing their lamps. Then the foolish said to the wise: "Give us some of your fuel; for our lamps have burned out in the night."

"We cannot," the wise replied, "for there is not enough fuel for both your lamps and ours. Go quickly, wake those that sell fuel, and buy extra for yourselves." 

But while they were off searching for fuel, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went with him to the marriage celebration, and behind them the door was shut.

Some time later, the foolish bridesmaids returned and began to call out plaintively: 
"Lord, Lord, let us in."

But he answered and said: 
"Truly I say to you, I do not know who you are." --Jesus


In case you missed Him the first time...you aren't alone!

"And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, [the evidence for this is:] you do not believe the one whom he has sent." John 5:37-38

Which is a worse condition: 

• TO not recognize the Son of God 
• OR to not be recognized by the Son of God? 
• TO not be capable of knowing what in the quality of His voice or the grace in his movement reveals the Goodness of God 
• OR to be denied entrance into that grace-filled company because you were incapable of revealing His Life in you?
• TO never have entered into the companionship of love, trust and obedience with the Lord of Light and Life
• OR to be exposed as a pretender?
• TO never have started the journey, built the tower, confront the enemy
• OR to be mocked for not finishing? 
• TO never have had the light in you
• OR the light in you flickers, falters and fails over time?

The Return.10

"Of this I assure you, prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you now see, and did not, or to hear the things you now hear, and did not have the opportunity to hear them. You, instead, have both seen and heard all of these prophecies come to pass."

--Jesus

Prophets and Kings.

image from beforeitsnews.com

• Pharaoh had his Sorcerers 
• Balak had his Balaam
• Saul had his Medium
• Nebuchadnezzar had his Astrologers
• Politicians have their Pollsters

Even the Evil Queen had her Mirror!

It seems insecurity afflicts despotism!  Modern despots, however, not only want to know what the future holds but -more importantly- how they can manipulate it for their own ends!

Today's Ruling Class employs Seers (a.k.a., Futurists), as well as the modern versions of sorcerers and astrologers: the "scientific community". Unlike their predecessors, however, with the aid of powerful communication technology, they are able to powerfully influence lifestyles, behavior, economies, governments and the "lowering of the seas"!

Biblical Prophecy: 
the intersection between the Infinite and the Finite.  

image from scriptureseeds.com

But who is in the best position to truly know what the future holds? As it always has been, it is the humble and obedient who truly see.  Simple fishermen, whose only accreditation is "having been with Jesus" rightly know what the future holds simply by knowing Him who holds the future!  

As Hollywood and politicians takes their jabs at the faith

image from reasons.org

community; as Islam grows in power and influence; as Christians are mocked, ridiculed and persecuted; as Moral Relativism tightens its grip on a secular world it is vital now more than ever to KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS: Pioneer, Perfecter, Protector of our faith!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

 Hebrews 12:1-3

The Return.9

"Two will be working in a field. 
One will be taken [i.e. received]
    and the other left behind [i.e. turned away].   

Two women will be grinding at a mill. 
One will be taken, [see above]
    and the other left behind [ditto]. 

Watch therefore: 

for you know not in which hour your Lord will return. 

But do know this: 
that if those in the house had known the hour of the thief’s coming, they would have remained watchful, and would not have let their stores be plundered."

--Jesus

I have a co-worker who has asked me on several occasions

image from politicaloutcast.com

if I believe in the "rapture" (meaning, of course, the way he believes in the "rapture".)  After waxing theological on a few of those occasions I've finally resolved to just say: No. I believe in Jesus.  Sigh...

I've come to understand that it isn't just Christians who, in times of great turmoil --which, by the way, is the cycle of mankind's history -- resort to finding comfort and relief in their version of doomsday predictions.  For decades the scientific community has offered its own impending cataclysmic scenarios resulting from man-made this or that. 

"It has been 45 years now since the first Earth Day. You would think that in this time frame, given the urgency with which we were told we had to confront the supposed threats to the environment—Harvard biologist George Wald told us, “Civilization will end within 15 or 30 years unless immediate action is taken”—at least one of the big environmental disasters should have come to fruition...

• Global Cooling 
• Overpopulation
• Mass Starvation
• Resource Depletion
• Mass Extinction
• Renewable Energy
• Global Warming 

The environmental doomsayers don’t just extrapolate blindly from current trends. They extrapolate only from the trends that fit their apocalyptic vision while ignoring trends that don’t fit. They project forward the current rate at which we’re using up our resources, but ignore the history of our ability to innovate and create. They get all excited by 20 years of rising temperature or rising oil prices—but ignore two centuries of rising wealth and longevity.
It’s almost as if they started with a preconceived conclusion and cast about for evidence to support it." 

(from http://thefederalist.com/2015/04/24/seven-big-failed-environmentalist-predictions/)



The only truly predictable thing is that doctrinal dogma, computer models, and political positions too often trump truth and create warring factions, disputing, hatred, greater governmental intervention, and power-mongering.

The watchfulness Jesus describes --and is building into His followers-- is not marked by accurate predictions of questionable interpretations, but by resistance.  

• Resistance to being un-choosable through disobedience, indolence, carelessness, thoughtlessness, fearfulness or self-will.
• Resistance to the thief and his lies.
• Resistance to letting evil plunder our hearts and homes.
• Resistance to letting the world system squeeze us into its predictable mold and robbing us of the freedom to live life in harmony with our Creator.
• Resistance to fashionable and chic, wealth and power, envy and coveting, materialism and ambition.

Let us then live with a readiness to give ourselves to Jesus in the quality and loveliness of life He inspires through His Spirit.  In a word: love one another as he loves us. Every moment, every day.

The Return.8

"Let not my returning find you unprepared; 
for like the springing of a trap, 
will it suddenly come upon the earth."

--Jesus

Recently my wife and I took four of our grandkids camping.

 Normally I love camping.  Enormously I love my grandkids. But this was a cold October weekend we chose for both.  After working through a tough week battling a cold and cowpoop, I just wasn't looking forward to battling weather and whippersnappers! 

We arrived late at night where we then had to set up camp, unload our horses, get them tied up and settle the kids down for a chilly night's sleep.  It was almost more than I could handle and all I could think about was how much I did not want to be here, I wanted to be home in the comfort of my own bed!

The next morning after waking I carefully unpeeled myself from between the puzzle-pieces of bodies lying all around, praying I wouldn't wake anyone before getting a first cup of coffee!  Outside, as I wandered aimlessly not wanting to go back in the camper and really not wanting to stay, a friend rescued me with the comforting words: we have coffee!

Comfort.  It has a powerful pull on a weak and weary soul, doesn't it? At one point I remember thinking that I was living an episode of Bear Gryll's Man vs Wild and recoiling at the notion of having to endure discomfort!

But if it's true that Jesus has a right to my absolute obedience I need to remember that He also has a right to determine my steps and I don't have a right to argue whether I like His will or not.  The "springing of the trap" of His will is a great word-picture of the surprise too many "Christians" experience when comfort is suddenly whisked away by death, disease, societal collapse, evil, cold-hearts and indifference. 

Blog sites are springing up daily on how to be prepared for this or that looming disaster.  For a follower of Jesus the primary preparation we must focus on is alacrity: quick, cheerful, complete obedience from the heart.  Whether His will calls us to great sacrifice, great watchfulness, great fellowship, great planting or great reaping, let it be said of us: we are ready!

By the way, a little perspective gives a great deal of comfort: we had a great weekend with family and friends!

The Return.7

"Do not let your heart be overwhelmed

         by the pursuit of earthly pleasure, 
              or the anxieties of life. "

--Jesus

o·ver·whelm

ˌōvərˈ(h)welm/

verb

past tense: overwhelmed; past participle: overwhelmed

1. -   bury or drown beneath a huge mass.

       "the water flowed through to overwhelm the whole dam and the village beneath"

   synonyms:

   swamp, submerge, engulf, bury, deluge, flood, inundate "advancing sand dunes could overwhelm the village"

   • defeat completely.

     "his teams overwhelmed their opponents"

     synonyms:

     defeat (utterly/heavily), trounce, rout, beat (hollow), conquer, vanquish,be victorious over, triumph over, worst, overcome, overthrow, crush;More

   • give too much of a thing to (someone); inundate.

     "they were overwhelmed by farewell messages"

   
   

How do we keep our hearts from being swamped, buried,

inundated, trounced, routed, conquered, vanquished, overthrown, crushed by this world; whether the allure of pleasure or the anxieties of life?

The Apostle Paul lived out Jesus' command and discovered the key to conquering the crushing pressures of this world's influences:

"We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."

(2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

Two ends of the Anxiety Squeeze:

• Earthly Pleasure: "If things be our undoing, it matters little whether its things we have or things we don't have." The comfort and security of the American way of life is rapidly disappearing as the USA turns its back on God symbolized most recently by the late night removal of the Ten Commandments from the Oklahoma state capitol and the celebration of a statue dedicated to Satan in Detroit!
• Anxieties of life: Christians are being targeted for persecution in a manner perhaps rivaling the days of Domitian and emperor worship in Rome.

There is an American Pastor, Saeed Abedini, sitting in an Iranian prison "carrying in his body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus" as his captors continually torture and try him for his testimony to the Lordship of Jesus Christ!  A gunman on a community college in Oregon pointedly asked students whether or not they were followers of Jesus. If they declared their allegiance to Jesus he shot them in the head wherein "the life of Jesus was also revealed in their bodies."

How do we keep from being overwhelmed?  By keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, the kind of faith He wants to find when He returns!  A faith marked by obedience, by letting go of the comforts and security of this world, and by taking a stand when called upon to declare our allegiance to Jesus!

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, 

and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy..." - Jude 1:24

The Return.6

"As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the time of the coming of the Son of Man. In the days that preceded the great flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, and carelessly celebrating, until the day that Noah entered into the ark.

It was the same in the days of Lot. Men and women ate and drank, bought and sold, planted and built. But on the day that Lot departed from Sodom, it rained fire and molten sulfur from heaven, and destroyed them all. 

So will it be on the day that the Son of Man is revealed."

--Jesus

The recent exposure of Planned Parenthood's selling of human body parts is deeply disturbing.  Even more disturbing, however, is how quickly the culture moved on.  We treat the most troubling aspects of our society like any crash scene: we slow down, gawk for a few minutes, take out our cellphones, click a picture, post on social media, give our opinion and move on. 

Whether it's human beings chopped up and sold off for financial gain, or human beings deflating footballs for financial gain, its all the same when it comes to our culture's superficial attempts to express outrage - there is NO distinction between what truly matters and inanity.  

"This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, 'I have done no wrong.'” --Proverbs 30:20

But it's that very careless indifference that has resulted in the harshest of God's necessary course corrections throughout mankind's history. He has established boundaries in the earth for the seas, the sands, the habitable and inhabitable places. So also spiritual and moral boundaries. Individuals live with the consequences of crossing those boundaries; often bringing judgment in their own bodies and certainly within their own families. And when communities begin to adapt, accept, embrace and promote sinful attitudes and actions making excuses for and defending, yea, assaulting those who resist, there comes a point when God must intervene on a larger scale. 

John's Revelation formally introduces the world to the four agents he has used historically to enforce his spiritual/moral boundaries: Conquest, War, Pestilence and Famine.When righteousness has lost its ability to move a society toward the character of God, He is left with little recourse but to move it himself.

Of all the examples Jesus could have chosen from, Noah and Lot represent mankind's inclination to go from utter indifference to maniacal assault against the self-evident truths of God.

God's judgement is certain, history proves it.  But as in all things, Jesus is the final hope that Righteousness will prevail!  Faith in Him and obedience to Him is the distinction separating His followers from the careless indifference and truth assault taking place in the world today! 

The Return.5

"And he will send his angels with the great sound of a trumpet; and they will gather together his chosen ones as from the four winds, from the farthest ends of the heavens and earth, and reward everyone according to his works."

--Jesus

Each year, as the earth's calendar slowly winds its way around to the
month of June, the people of the United States of America wait with breathless anticipation more prodigious announcements from its Supreme Court.

The Year 2015 did not disappoint for drama as the Supremes weighed in on no less than the meaning of love and the meaning of words! And, as usual, their decisions were met with Fabulous Fawning on the victors side; Anger and Vitriol on the losers.

And the earth's calendar keeps moving...

To the day when the final Judge will reign Supreme.  His word: Truth.  His meaning: Clear.  His intentions: Good.  His reward: Sure.

Let us then, as Jesus' followers, fix our hope, not on temporal judgments of finite men, but on the things that last eternally, things that bring eternal reward, namely, Truth, Obedience, Goodness.

Can there be any greater reward than to hear the righteous Judge say: 

"Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Master. In keeping my commandments reflecting my Father's goodness, you became True!"

The Return.4

"For even as the lightning flashes across the sky, illuminating the heavens from the east to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

At the end of time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, causing the nations of the earth to tremble.

All will see the Messiah, 
the Son of Man, 
appearing with 
power 
     and 
great glory; 

and they will see the Son of Man
     sitting on the right hand of the living God, 
          returning on the clouds of heaven."

--Jesus

Earthquakes and tornadoes share this in common:

 God-born inexorable power capable of reducing man-made things to rubble.

Imagine the world where every power source has been destroyed.  Imagine the sun, moon and stars no longer giving light to the earth.  Imagine in that suffocating darkness the terrible and glorious lightning flash revealing Jesus return to the earth -  transfixing every eye on His glory!


No eye, no mind, no heart will be able to question who is Lord of all the earth!

Maranatha!

The Return.3

"Do not believe those who tell you: "I have found one like Christ." For there will arise many deceitful imitators, and false prophets, exhibiting “signs” and “wonders,” so that even the elect will be deceived.

Some among you will say, "Behold, one like Christ is in the desert.” Do not hurry out looking for me. Or if they say, "Christ has come, and is in a secret location that I alone know of," do not believe it. " 

--Jesus

One Like Christ

In Escape From Reason, Francis Schaefer points out that the Anti-Christ is not the Anti-Non-Christ.  It is vitally important to understand that Jesus was and is the ultimate

expression of humanity, i.e., God's "logos" or idea of the qualities it takes to be fully human; a being in his image who is like God in nature. Therefore, any imitation, any being like Him, would have to have some of those qualities in order to attract other human beings.  

Thus, the disturbing trend in society of accepting ideas, "lifestyles", and practices that have been, historically, considered vile, obscene or worthless are esteemed and promoted because they are inoculated with terms like "tolerance", "love" and "civil rights" that let them pass through truth, reason and sensibility -- the guardians of civil behavior. 

Signs & Wonders

The movie, The Illusionist, gives a glimpse into the craft and effort it takes to deceive people into believing something that isn't.  The Prestige, demonstrates the awful means men will go to achieve their deceptive ends. In total they demonstrate the capacity humans have for deceiving and being deceived!

Deceitful Imitators

Jesus' words on the cost of discipleship sets a very high bar for commitment and obedience. Consider anew that we are to:

• take up our cross
• follow Him
• love him more than self
• be fit to plow
• decry earthly possessions
• obey all that He commanded us
• baptize and teach others to obey Him
• go the second mile
• pay the last penny
• give freely as we've received
• plant and sow His word
• seek the lost
• lay down our lives in love
• heal the sick
• feed the hungry
• clothe the naked
• visit the prisoner
• forgive as we've been forgiven

The only way to truly know a counterfeit is to truly know _
-- in intimate detail -- the Original.  The only way to know the True Jesus is to live our lives in absolute obedience to His commands.  He never asks us to do what He has not already done.  When we give ourselves to obedience we are giving ourselves to know His heart, the things that make it beat for the things He truly loves!

Militant love.

Sometimes I wonder if the Islamic "extremists" who live out their deadly beliefs are closer to the kind of passion Jesus requires of his followers then most of His followers are willing to live out?

Sometimes I wonder if any kind of passion for Christ that marks a person as peculiar is just too much for most of us.

Sometimes I wonder if our commitment to "bible study" is more important than our commitment to do all that Jesus said.

Sometimes I wonder if we understand that our "bible studies" are often no more than paper shuffling exercises that make us feel we are accomplishing something significant for the Kingdom of Heaven but have little productive value in changing lives; our own or others.

Sometimes I wonder if our struggle to live out our faith is because we know in our hearts that these paper shuffling activities can't really teach us His heart anywhere close what actually putting His words into practice will.  But due to fearfulness --whether to actually DO what He asks or fear of what others will think-- we don't even make baby steps of obedience.

Sometimes I wonder if we confuse obedience with perfection.  Obedience is not perfection, it is trying.  Trying then Trusting that the Perfect One will coach, strengthen, discipline, teach and help us eventually get it right!

The Return.2

"Beware that no man deceive you; 
for in the end times, 
many will come using my name, saying, 
"I am Christ," 
and will deceive many. 
False prophets will arise; 
and they too will lead many into
believing their lies."

--Jesus

Deceiving the masses, example #1:

One of the truly alarming trends in the USA's culture is the acceptance and promotion of fictionalized "reality". Whether "reality TV" or news reports that attempt to shape perception through clever selection and editing, a small number of people are attempting to recreate reality. Example: several St. Louis Rams football players came onto the playing field holding their arms up in a pose of surrender to "support" the protests of the death of a young black man, Michael Brown, at the hands of a young white police officer, Darren Wilson.  The facts of the case,however, proved Brown never raised his arms in surrender, but in fact posed a dangerous threat to Officer Wilson attempting to apprehend him for a crime he'd committed.  

Truth is our relationship to the facts.

In heeding Jesus' warning against deception our first commitment is to being True.  When an event happens, whether its having a cookie or what route I took to work this day, the test comes when challenged about our involvement in that event.  If I knew, for example, mom was saving the last cookie for a child-treat, and upon her investigation of its disappearance denied my part, the facts that belie my testimony don't change.  There are many factors that impact my relation to the facts: am I a chronic cookie-snatcher, do I battle diabetes, am I a coward, do I feel cheated that the kids always get the cookies?

Rather than seeing this as a small "white lie" that really has no consequence, I need to see each of those events as opportunity for my growth in righteousness, preparing me to resist deception in all its forms.
----------------------
Deceiving the masses, example #2:

Our state, Michigan, recently debated whether or not to allow a display honoring Satan in place of a Nativity scene at our state capital.

A local TV news outlet posted the story online and asked for opinions.  I gave mine and received what I consider chilling responses:

WNEM TV 5 news
"According to the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan State Capitol Commission has approved a Detroit Satanic group's plans to put up a "holiday display" at the statehouse in Lansing. Meanwhile, plans for a Christian Nativity have fallen through, because the out-of-state backer could not find someone to set up and take down the display.The State Capitol Commission said it authorized both displays to recognize everyone's First Amendment rights.Fast Feedback - We want to know what you think: What should be the policy for putting religious displays on state property?"

Charlie Lyon: Its another example that we as a society have abandoned our foundations, namely that all people are equal before the law and God, but not all ideas are equal. There are ideas that are superior to other ideas and ought to be esteemed and honored while the base and vile ought to be rejected and put to shame.

Michael R. Burhans: but of course, and isn't this a coincidence it is only YOUR ideas that should be allowed, right"?? LOL

Charlie Lyon: The problem, Michael, as I see it is that we seem to have lost the ability to discern what ideas are superior to others. That can't be good...

Tiera Worden-Byers: The 'Holy Bible' is pretty vile Charlie... start rejecting it...

Michael R. Burhans: Charlie Lyon, what is good in your eyes? In the bible your God killed millions over and over, while less than a dozen were killed by satan. Read history, hundreds of complete genocides of whole peoples by Christians, while Satanists have killed so few they don't even make the listings. So how then can you claim christianity (sic) is a better idea than Satanism?

Michael R. Burhans: Reading the Bible, the number one cause of atheism. LOL

Mike Serour: Start with our controlled country by Zionists. You'll find your answers there.

Charlie Lyon: that's a lot of stuff you have all lumped together. Forgive me if I don't want to even try to unpack it in this setting. And Michael, I'm sorry I don't see the humor in your lol's. ..

Michael R. Burhans: Of course not Charlie, you are too deep into the superstition. Enjoy your compatriots like Mike Seour here bashing the Jews in the name of your God.

Charlie Lyon: Not sure how you could determine what I am "deep into" by the few words I've posted here, Michael. But your assumptions make it difficult to have honest debate on what really are important issues for culture. Do we have inquiring minds left in society or just deeply entrenched opinions that we're more willing to cling to rather than strive for deeper love and understanding?

Jeny Ticar: Satan's blessings be upon you this holiday season, Charlie. Praise be to Him. Happy holidays

Charlie Lyon: Satan is a thief, liar, & the father of lies. His work is to steal, kill and destroy. That you use the words "blessing" & "happy" in the same sentence with "satan" demonstrates that you are either woefully deceived or so hardened in your heart that you fearlessly mock sacred things. I'll pray for your soul, Jeny...

Truth is our relation to The Reality revealed in Jesus Christ.

The world, that system of thought & action in open rebellion

image from 28nineteen.com

to the Creator, will continue to attempt to squeeze humanity into its mold through lies, illusion & deception.  Not only will human suffering increase as the pressure to conform increases, but there is a greater tragedy. The farther removed an individual is from,say,

• the truth of a flower or 
• the truth of water or 
• the truth of the sky or 
• the truth of their own existence, 

truth that began in the mind of God, the less likely he or she will reach their own potential!
---------------------
Deceiving the masses, example #3:

"Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity [the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency]. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One's standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intended to. 

Spectator contributor Theodore Dalrymple

Truth is our relation to the duties imposed by our understanding of what is required of us when we see the idea of the thing that God thought into existence! 

It is why Peter urges other followers of Jesus to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in us.  Sharpen your testimony as a way to battle the deception that is cloaking this world.  Find every appropriate opportunity to share it and live with confidence in the Truth God has revealed in His Scripture, through His Son, Jesus, and is revealing about Himself through you!

How great a breach is just this one sin, lying, to the human race?  What would the world look like if it were completely eradicated from the human experience?
  
Amazing breakthroughs have occurred throughout the last century to combat all kinds of illness from polio to smallpox and a variety of cancers.  But do you suppose there is a scientific remedy for lying? If there were, how many people would line up for that vaccination?

The cost of research and development of modern medicine can accrue in the billions of dollars.  What price would we be willing to pay for the eradication of falsehood, untruth, deception and lies?

Jesus description of the terrible upheaval on this planet in the days preceding His Return, I believe, is the price the world will pay to be rid of lying and deception!

In the end, a small price to pay to live in a world that knows the joy of the Truth!

(thoughts here adapted from The Truth, by George MacDonald)