Charles Ponzi, an enterprising Italian immigrant, etched his name into the annals of history through a web of deceit and illusion. His mastery of deception was so profound that his legacy gave birth to a terminology of fraud known by his name—the “Ponzi Scheme.” In 1920, Ponzi lured thousands under the guise of a postage stamp venture with the promise of a jaw-dropping 50 percent return within the span of a mere 90 days. Each time a new investor gave him money, he used those funds to pay off earlier investors, creating the illusion that they were profiting from a legitimate business. At the height of his huge scam, he raked in $250,000 a day, about $3 million in today’s money. As August of 1920 unfolded, the curtains closed on Ponzi’s deception and he was charged with 86 counts of mail fraud.
Ponzi’s scheme reminds me very much of how our great enemy, Satan, presents himself and his truth. His promises are alluring. Satan beckons us to exchange the promises of God’s Word for the promises of instant gratification. He promises us satisfaction and assures us that WE know better than GOD. He did it in the Garden of Eden and he is doing it today. Eve told the serpent that God told her NOT to eat of the fruit of the tree or she would die. The serpent and Eve then had this simple but eternally profound exchange:
The serpent: “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Eve believed the lie and did what she FELT was best: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.”
from Genesis 3:4-6 NKJV
The enemy is STILL masquerading as our friend and actively trying to convince every human that what WE THINK or FEEL about RIGHT and WRONG should dictate what we DO—with NO regard to what GOD’S WORD SAYS!
Satan hates us. He hates God. He wants to separate us from a relationship with God. His lies are meant to destroy the very essence of the greatness God created us to be. Thus, he masquerades as light and love. He recasts truth, shifts blame, plays at smoke and mirrors, and then disappears and allows the hate and confusion to work its dark magic on the humans left to deal with the aftermath. He casts his ideology as a matter of “individual liberty” or “self love”, but he is simply recasting the scene in the Garden of Eden—asking people to choose between God’s way and their own. In the chaotic aftermath of his lies, we are left wondering who we even are.
As a result we have a culture that is overwhelmed by persistent anxiety.
We don’t know who to believe. This chaos produces irreversible effects—especially upon our most vulnerable population. Take, for example, the tragic life of Kayla Lovdahl:
Kayla Lovdahl, who is now 18, says that at age 11 she was pushed to believe that she was transgender after being exposed to online influencers, according to the lawsuit she filed in California State Court against Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and four doctors. According to the lawsuit, “…they essentially handed Kayla the prescription pad, and allowed her naïve, emotional, childish, rollercoaster of feelings to DICTATE the so-called ‘treatment’ that she would receive.” Not knowing what to do when their daughter claimed she was a boy, her parents sought out help from medical professionals who quickly affirmed the girl’s FEELINGS that she was transgender, Lovdahl said. By the age of 12 she was on hormone blockers and testosterone without even a proper psychological evaluation. Doctors removed her breasts at age 13. The physicians allegedly told her family, “It is better to have a live son than a dead daughter.” Then, at age 17, she realized the horrible mistake and de-transitioned. Now she is suing the doctors, claiming they were negligent, and calling her earlier belief that she was transgender “mistaken.”
https://nypost.com/2023/06/17/woman-sues-hospital-for-removing-her-breasts-when-she-was-13-years-old/
This is just one tragic example of how our cultural shift away from the truth of God’s Word has failed children like Kayla. “Feelings” cannot replace truth. Not ever. If feelings are substituted for science (like basic DNA) to make irreversible life changing decisions, we are creating the most tragic of circumstances. Why would it ever make sense to substitute our feelings for truth? Where does it end? Can I feel like a bird and jump off a building because I FEEL like I can fly? Can I FEEL like I am Native American and qualify for their benefits? The possibilities are endless. The slippery slope of “truth” will only get slippery if we don’t use the anchor of truth.
My friend, God has given us HIS belt of truth to shine the light against the lies of the enemy. From the beginning, we were created in His image. If we know this truth, we know that this does not change just because we FEEL a certain way about ourselves. God didn’t create us to live as a slave to our fickle feelings! God never changes. His truth is our refuge amidst the storm of lies.
God has provided a way for us to live in VICTORY by putting our feelings to their proper use for HIS glory. Tomorrow’s devotional will examine the healthy way to cultivate our feelings and enjoy the resulting emotions as gifts from God.
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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10 Responses
praying for our nation every day
Yes! So encouraging to hear that we are praying together!
We are as God made us not what we wish to be or what someone else tells us we should be or could be. It’s heartbreaking what is going on now.
Praying for our nation to return to God!
Wow, another reading that share with my wife and gets us to discuss.
Thank you my dear!!
Blessings to you both and praise God! He is on the move!
Kimberly; Thanks very much for this story of how the indoctrination of trans people is happening. We need many more stories like this showing how these people are lied to and never hear from the REAL doctors of the negative aspects of transgender ideas. I believe the whole transgender movement is satanic and against nature. People have been intimidated into keeping their mouths shut when they should be spreading truth.
I imagine when God looks at ANY choice we make which deviateS from His loving will for us it breaks His heart. He wants so much good for us. I pray that God continues to use His Word to shine a light in my own life and reveal any lies I’m believing that violate His Word. I’m an expert at justifying sinful omissions—like failing to “pray without ceasing” and making God the greatest passion of my life. He is so patient and kind with us all—no matter what sins we’ve chosen! Have a blessed day!
Thank you for your wisdom. Like Chris Tomlin says. ” You are a good good father. It is who you are”
He is a good good Father for sure!