Self-Deception: The Danger of Believing a Lie

Deception — being misled so that the false is believed to be true — normally comes from others, yet it can also be self-inflicted through holding a misconception (a wrong idea) about ourselves. Because the cause is not knowing or following the truth, it is important to discover what God says and act upon it, whether or not it is favourable to us.

What Is Self-Deception?

While deception normally comes from others, self-deception begins with a misconception — a wrong idea about ourselves. As the cause is not knowing or following the truth, it is important to discover that and act upon it, whether or not it is favourable to us.

Turning a ‘blind eye’ can lead to deceiving oneself

God’s Word, when applied to our lives, brings change (Ps 119:11; Jn 17:17). Its teachings should not remain mere intellectual knowledge to which we give mental assent; rather, we should allow the Holy Spirit to effect a lifestyle and character transformation so we are thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17). Hearing the Word of God but not doing what it tells us to do is precisely how self-deception manifests (Jas 1:22). Our hearts are deceitful, with pride being a major contributor (Isa 44:20; Jer 17:9; Ob 1:3). Human pride blinds us to truth — and once we are blind to truth, we are blind to reality, living by a false picture of ourselves that no longer matches how God sees us; the warning is given, “Pride goes before destruction” (Prov 16:18). This is one reason we are to “guard our heart more than any treasure” (Prov 4:23). Failing to keep our tongues under tight control is another way we can deceive ourselves (Jas 1:26).

Trusting What Is Worthless

Many people are deceived by trusting in what is worthless; this includes fame, wealth, beauty, self-importance and gaining much in the world but overlooking the real prize – eternal life (Job 15:31; Prov 31:30; Lk 12:15; Gal 6:3). Worldly wisdom and philosophy that ignore God are further ways people deceive themselves; by believing a lie they fail to get to know Jesus, the truth, and “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (Jn 14:6; 1 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 1:8).

If self-deception is left unchecked, it hardens into delusion — a settled, sincere belief in something false, a blindness to reality that the deceived person can no longer recognise in themselves. Scripture warns of those who “perished because they refused to love the truth and so be saved”, and for this reason “God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie” (2 Thess 2:10-11). What begins as turning a blind eye ends as blindness to reality itself, which is why the deluded person needs others who will speak the truth in love, and why only the light of God’s Word can expose and correct what feelings and self-opinion cannot (Ps 119:105; Eph 4:15).

We are the one who will suffer the most

Goliath was self-deceived; he considered his size and military armour far superior to that of the much smaller, younger and poorly protected David. However, David’s response to Goliath’s contempt summed up the real situation: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…” (1 Sam 17:45). King Nebuchadnezzar in pride declared, “Is this not the great Babylon I have built…by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty.” Immediately he was humbled “until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes” (Dan 4:30-37). Jesus told of a rich fool who decided his hard efforts on the farm now entitled him to put his feet up and relax for years to come, yet he died that night! He held the mistaken belief that life revolved around him and that he had plenty of time to enjoy himself (Lk 12:16-21). Pilate had a false understanding of his position and authority when he said to Jesus, “Don’t you realise I have power to free you or to crucify you.” In response Jesus replied, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (Jn 19:10-11).

The powerful influence of self-deception can affect a whole church. The lukewarm Laodicean church had convinced itself that everything was all right. Their attitude was “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing” yet their true condition is described as, “You do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Rev 3:17). What a contrast between the false opinions they believed and the reality of truth.

Accept the truth even if it is painful

Increasingly an ‘easy gospel’ that doesn’t demand a break from sinful lifestyles is being propagated in today’s world. “Itching ears” would rather hear something less demanding than the truth of God’s Word which brings a conviction of sin, because then a life transformation is the matter to be dealt with (Rom 6:4; 2 Tim 4:3-4). Unfortunately, many people are also lulled into a false sense of eternal security because at some stage in the past they said the sinner’s prayer and so they consider they are guaranteed a place in heaven but continue to live a lifestyle of sin (Mt 7:21; Rom 6:1).

The Mirror of God’s Word

To avoid being self-deceived we need to constantly evaluate ourselves by the standard of God’s Word and take any necessary corrective measures. The illustration is made of looking in a mirror for the purpose of adjusting or putting right anything not acceptable; otherwise, seeing what is wrong but not correcting it is a total waste of effort (Jas 1:23-25).

Do what the mirror indicates

This means allowing the truth of God’s Word to dictate our beliefs — not warped assumptions, personal feelings, or the opinions of others, however sincere or respected they may be. Human reasoning apart from God is a poor guide, and worldly philosophy or tradition can easily hollow out faith (Col 2:8). Instead, we are to trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding (Prov 3:5-6), remembering that God’s thoughts are far higher than ours (Isa 55:8-9). Rather than being squeezed into the mindset of the age, we let the Word renew our thinking, testing every thought and assumption against it (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 10:5). Where the truth of Scripture is permitted to settle what we believe about ourselves, God and others, self-deception loses its grip — for “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:31-32).

Reflection and Application:

Invite the Holy Spirit to expose any area where you may be deceiving yourself (Ps 139:23-24).
Be a doer of the Word, not a hearer only (Jas 1:22).
Repent promptly of anything the Word reveals, so truth is acted upon (Jas 1:23-25).
Guard your heart and keep your tongue under control each day (Prov 4:23; Jas 1:26).