The Marks of the Deceiver: A Lamentation Upon Those Who Encourage Sin, Court Gold, and Bend the Scriptures to the Spirit of the Age by Debbie Harris

Tags

Biblical Truth, Christian Poetry, Inspirational, Royally Redeemed

To the Reader

Dear Reader, beloved pilgrim journeying through this vale of tears,

In these latter days, when the very foundations of truth tremble beneath the weight of smooth deception, a clear and faithful voice arose upon the public square. It lifted a prophetic standard, not in the language of scholarly treatises or ornate rhetoric, but in plain, urgent speech drawn straight from the wells of Scripture. It set forth the unmistakable marks of the false teacher: those who no longer confront sin with holy severity, but who instead encourage it with gentle affirmation; who banish all mention of Hell’s righteous judgment; who crave the glittering praise of men and the comforts of worldly wealth; and who, with practiced cunning, twist the eternal words of God to harmonize with the ever-shifting spirit of this present evil age.

I have taken this timely warning—simple, biblical, and unadorned—and clothed it in the enduring garments of classical verse. Not to embellish or obscure the truth, but to engrave it more deeply upon the heart, that it might abide when the scroll of the screen has faded and the noise of the hour has passed. Poetry, rightly used, is a lantern in the darkness and a sword in the hand of the watchful. May these lines serve as both.

Read slowly. Read prayerfully. Let the words test the spirits, as the Apostle commanded. Examine every teacher, every doctrine, every pleasing sentiment by the unchanging light of Holy Scripture. For the enemy of souls has never been more subtle, nor his ministers more adorned in the robes of light. Yet the true Shepherd still calls His sheep by name, and His voice remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Cling to the old paths. Hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints. And may the God of all grace grant you discernment, courage, and unwavering fidelity in this darkening hour.

Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Peter 2:1-3

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

1 Timothy 6:5 — “…supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Jude 1:4 — For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

In shadowed halls where once the Gospel rang

With thunderous truth and purifying fire,

Now soft-tongued serpents weave a silken song,

And call their honeyed lies celestial choir.

They shun the blade that severs soul from sin,

Nor speak of Hell’s unquenchable abyss;

Lest trembling hearts should turn from pleasure’s din

And seek the narrow path of righteousness.

Their eyes gleam bright with gold and mortal praise,

They court the crowd and court the critic’s nod;

While heaven’s treasures gather dust and rust,

They heap their barns with fleeting, earthly laud.