- Dec 24, 2005
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Many of us have probably heard it ...
“If you place a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will immediately try to scramble out. But if you place the frog in room temperature water, and don’t scare him, he’ll stay put.
Now, if the pot sits on a heat source, and if you gradually turn up the temperature, something very interesting happens. As the temperature rises, the frog will do nothing. In fact, he may show every sign of enjoying himself.
As the temperature gradually increases, the frog will become groggier and groggier, until he is unable to climb out of the pot. Though there is nothing restraining him, the frog will sit there and boil.
Why? Because the frog’s internal apparatus for sensing threats to survival is geared to sudden changes in the environment, not to slow, gradual changes.”
I think we can look at this parable and apply it to how we as Christians can become deceived.
I don't think many, if any, of us wake up one morning and make the decision to become deceived.
I don't think many of us as Christians decide one day to start fellowshipping in Hindu temples, or Muslim Mosques, or the like ... as they are not Christian in belief.
Nor do I think many of us Christians, after salvation, decide to join a street gang so as to live the wild life.
Lots of us choose after salvation to not even go into sinful places ... like brothels, porn shops, x-rated movies, drug houses, bars ... well, you get my drift!
Generally, as followers of Jesus we will want to go places, do things, fellowship, in ways that are conducive to growing in our faith. It's just a natural kind of supernatural thing that happens after conversion!
So no, I doubt many of us seek to be deceived.
But deception does happen.
Much like how this frog became deceived ... and someone's dinner!
Deception happens gradually, slowly.
We may begin watching and listening to tv preachers that don't quite preach the whole gospel truth.
Or we may begin reading Christian books that are full of more of the world's philosophies than the principles of God.
Or we may begin hanging with persons that aren't so stable in the faith.
Or we may begin reading too much worldly stuff and not enough Bible.
Or we may begin listening to too many loud voices in the world rather than choosing to listen to the gentle nudgings of the Holy Spirit.
Or we may begin hanging out too much online in forums with Christians that are not 'like-minded'.
Or ...
In this day of tremendous technology and opportunity, there are so many ways that we can become confused in our thinking ... and deceived.
And generally, the process happens very slowly.
When we arrive 'there', we don't know it.
That's the nature of deception!
We do have a Saving Christ Who can deliver us from deception.
But why allow deception to happen at all?
( ... I know I surely don't want to suddenly find myself one day being someone's dinner!!!)
We are told in the Word ...
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Proverbs 4:23
Good advice, sound advice, biblical advice ... from the Word of God ... because God does not want His people deceived and lead astray ...
The Parable of The Boiled Frog
“If you place a frog in a pot of boiling water, it will immediately try to scramble out. But if you place the frog in room temperature water, and don’t scare him, he’ll stay put.
Now, if the pot sits on a heat source, and if you gradually turn up the temperature, something very interesting happens. As the temperature rises, the frog will do nothing. In fact, he may show every sign of enjoying himself.
As the temperature gradually increases, the frog will become groggier and groggier, until he is unable to climb out of the pot. Though there is nothing restraining him, the frog will sit there and boil.
Why? Because the frog’s internal apparatus for sensing threats to survival is geared to sudden changes in the environment, not to slow, gradual changes.”
I think we can look at this parable and apply it to how we as Christians can become deceived.
I don't think many, if any, of us wake up one morning and make the decision to become deceived.
I don't think many of us as Christians decide one day to start fellowshipping in Hindu temples, or Muslim Mosques, or the like ... as they are not Christian in belief.
Nor do I think many of us Christians, after salvation, decide to join a street gang so as to live the wild life.
Lots of us choose after salvation to not even go into sinful places ... like brothels, porn shops, x-rated movies, drug houses, bars ... well, you get my drift!
Generally, as followers of Jesus we will want to go places, do things, fellowship, in ways that are conducive to growing in our faith. It's just a natural kind of supernatural thing that happens after conversion!
So no, I doubt many of us seek to be deceived.
But deception does happen.
Much like how this frog became deceived ... and someone's dinner!
Deception happens gradually, slowly.
We may begin watching and listening to tv preachers that don't quite preach the whole gospel truth.
Or we may begin reading Christian books that are full of more of the world's philosophies than the principles of God.
Or we may begin hanging with persons that aren't so stable in the faith.
Or we may begin reading too much worldly stuff and not enough Bible.
Or we may begin listening to too many loud voices in the world rather than choosing to listen to the gentle nudgings of the Holy Spirit.
Or we may begin hanging out too much online in forums with Christians that are not 'like-minded'.
Or ...
In this day of tremendous technology and opportunity, there are so many ways that we can become confused in our thinking ... and deceived.
And generally, the process happens very slowly.
When we arrive 'there', we don't know it.
That's the nature of deception!
We do have a Saving Christ Who can deliver us from deception.
But why allow deception to happen at all?
( ... I know I surely don't want to suddenly find myself one day being someone's dinner!!!)
We are told in the Word ...
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Proverbs 4:23
Good advice, sound advice, biblical advice ... from the Word of God ... because God does not want His people deceived and lead astray ...