Knock! Knock! Who's There?

Do you know who's at the door? John warned the believers not to receive false teachers into their homes.  (2 John 10) By doing so, they were approving of what these deceivers were saying and how they were living. (In John's day, these false teachers did not affirm that Jesus actually came in the flesh - that He was only a spirit.) John admonished them to be alert because deceitful people will appear to be saying the right things and will seem sincere and believable. They attract people with their eloquence and likability...so beware!

Do we invite false teachers into our homes today? We may physically allow people of other religions in, in hopes of "converting" them, but we must be careful that we are strong in what we believe and why before we do.  Aside from this, most times, we don't invite deceivers in intentionally. Remember though, they are deceitful. They are doing the work of the enemy and his main weapons are distraction and disillusion. We too must be alert and aware of what/who we are allowing into our homes. One of the easiest ways for deceivers to enter is through our eyes.

What we watch and/or allow to be watched on television is an easy way for deceivers to enter our homes. Are we distracted with false teachers preaching a false "gospel"  even though it sounds alot like what we believe? Are we allowing our children, and even ourselves, to be drawn into the disillusion that success and fame - the Hollywood lifestyle - regardless of its cost, is what they should be dreaming of and pursuing? Soon, the things we watch and the people we admire become idols we can't live without.

What about books and magazines? Are we distracted by the flash and fashion, promises and potions, gossip and glamor that we are disillusioned into believing that everything we read is true? Or are we strong enough in the real Truth, that we can tell the difference? Do our teen age girls (and boys) know the people on the covers of magazines are not "real"? Yet sadly, they are deceived and disillusioned into thinking they must look like them in order to be accepted and loved.

What about computers/phones? The false teachers we allow into our homes through the computer/phone screens are just as deceiving, but easier to hide. We spend more time looking at these screens then we do anything else it seems! We allow them to distract us from the actual people and "real friends" around us. Some become disillusioned and struggle identifying what is real and what is virtual reality. We no longer use the phone to talk to people and the social skills of our children are becoming non-existent.

So do we know who's at our door begging to be let into our home? Are we leaving our doors unlocked and allowing anyone and anything to come in and make themselves comfortable? Have the deceivers become a part of the family that we can't imagine life without them?

We must be aware and alert  - as Peter warns us - because our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (I Peter 5:8). He wants to devour our faith, our family and our future. Do not give him a foothold into your home or a place to settle! (Ephesians  4:27)

Download this week's lesson from 2 & 3 John