Smoke and Mirrors

“Smoke and mirrors is a metaphor for a deceptive, fraudulent or insubstantial explanation or description. The source of the name is based on magicians ‘illusions, where magicians make objects appear or disappear by extending or retracting mirrors amid a confusing burst of smoke.” (Wikipedia). Satan is the greatest illusionist of all time. He is the master of smoke and mirrors.

  Trying to live a holy life in today’s world can be confusing. Right now the world seems to be turned upside down, topsy turvy. People are calling evil good and good evil! The things that should be condemned are being embraced and vice versa. Homosexuality is rampant and even being accepted in the church realm. Schools are demanding students get re-educated, attend ‘pride’ events. 1 Corinthians 6:9 …“ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals.” People seem to have a ‘do what you want to, grace will cover it’ mentality. If it feels good, do it type thing. Society has become so accepting of so many things that are ungodly and for one to speak out against it is often labeled a hater or an anti whatever is going on at the moment. Someone said, “Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to be, and make you pay a price higher than you wanted to pay.” Satan is a liar, a thief, and a murderer. He has no compassion for you, only contempt and hatred because you are the object of God’s love. His promises as well as they that work for him, are smoke and mirrors.

  Be careful little lambs! Many have been led astray by thoughts planted in their minds by false teachers and false prophets prophesying that all is well within your soul. Lies! These teachers have corrupted their thoughts, so much that they no longer think for themselves, and like sheep they are led to the slaughter. Wolves masquerading as shepherds, caring not for the sheep but seeking their own reward, doing whatever possible to fill their own pockets.

  David the psalmist asked the question, who shall ascend into the hills of the Lord and who shall stand in His holy place? The answer…they who have clean hands and a pure heart. You cannot expect to use your hands to cause hurt, pain and suffering, participate in trickery and deceit…’smoke and mirrors’ and still expect to be able to stand in His holy place. Listen to what God says in Isaiah 1:15….”When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.”

  Listen to me and listen with your heart, this post is not to judge anyone, there is only one Judge and we’ll all stand before Him for the things we’ve done. As a matter of fact, if the critics and judges were to examine my past church-related experiences I would be a condemned woman. But I gradually moved along past so many ”dos and don’ts” and “doctrines and traditions” because I was hanging on to Jesus (sometimes by my fingernails) and have learned to just rest in Him, living in the freedom He died to give me, but I digress…. One day Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “They have closed their eyes until they are blind.” I just want to open your eyes to what is going on around you. Many of the things I’ve talked about and I’m going to talk about are happening among the people of God and inside our ‘churches’ today.

  I believe pride and greed are a lot of the problems with some of the leaders of today’s churches. Many times we get caught up in who we think we are and what we think we can do. I’ve had people tell me how anointed and spiritual they are, that they can do this and that. Boast about how many degrees they have and how well they know the bible and some even demand you use a title when speaking to or about them…. Reverend ‘So and So’, Apostle ‘What’s His Name’, Prophetess and Prophet ‘Knows All’. But let’s take a look at what the Apostle Paul had to say, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” They walk around all puffed up, caught up in titles, seeking and basking in the admiration and accolades of their peers. More concerned with numbers than souls. Some may be excellent at what they do, rather it is singing, teaching, preaching or even writing and most have the charisma to charm and mesmerize a crowd. They try to make you think they’re doing great things for God but in essence it’s all smoke and mirrors, trickery and deceit. Deceit is mentioned in the Bible in its various forms approximately 65 times. We are not to act deceitfully to one another. Jesus warns us that because of deceit, many will be led astray in the last days. “For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders (smoke and mirrors) so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.”……Matthew 24:24 These false prophets are going to be so good at what they do, many will be caught unaware (asleep) and be deceived. Lord have mercy on their souls!

  The ‘church’ has become a showplace with big bands, loud music, dancers waving flags in your face, and let’s not forget the bling and lights. No preaching about the love of God or His goodness, in fact a lot of the churches have removed the altars and the crosses. They’re preaching another Jesus, another gospel. Jesus has left the church or is it He got pushed out. They preach prosperity and how you can get rich by buying their tapes and books and in essence, they’re the ones getting rich from your naivety. They prey on the lonely, the widows, the shut-ins and people who are sick and grasping at straws in order to be healed so they send these ‘no account frauds’ their money. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible silly women. (paraphrased 2 Timothy 3:6) And God warns us to stay away from such as these. I sincerely believe there are people who go to church not to worship God but to catch up on and be a part of the latest gimmick (what God’s doing). Can I tell you something….there’s nothing new under the sun. What has been done will be done again, what has been will be again.

  Now don’t misunderstand me, there’s nothing wrong with owning material things, God blesses people with wealth, Abraham, Job, King Solomon to name a few but it is when the acquiring the wealth takes priority over the things of God and when we began to compromise what we believe in for the sake of wealth and status is where we get in trouble. It’s about sending the message that a person is not blessed because they don’t have all these material things. It seems like just about every televangelist talks about blessings in a materialistic way. Unless you’re pastor of a mega church, wear fancy high dollar suits, drive the newest, flashiest, biggest cars, own your own private jet or two, live in the biggest mansion and let us not forget body guards, and TV. shows, you’re nothing! And if they have to resort to trickery and deceit to get the wealth, they will. If they have to use smoke and mirrors to fool the crowd, they’re very good at that. Can I tell you something….I’ve never seen a luggage rack on a hearse and I have a good idea that there will be no U Hauls in Heaven.

  They’re not shepherds. Jesus called them hirelings, caring nothing for the sheep but are after their own reward. They peddle their wares just like they did when Jesus cleaned out the temple. Prostituting the word of God, selling His gifts and healing. Sugar coating sin and preaching a water downed gospel and a water downed gospel is no gospel. Come Lord God and clean out Your church again.

  Joy is found in the presence of God.  God’s Word is a life manual to provide you the most satisfaction and the best life possible. God loves you and wants the best for you. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I (Christ) have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”  Don’t be fooled!

  Okay, I’ll shut up now and leave you with this word…”Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD.…” Jeremiah 23:1,2

  “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.”

In His love,
Elizabeth