In the very beginning of our Bible, we read about the first woman, Eve, being deceived by the serpent to eat the fruit God had specifically told her not to eat. That serpent was the devil. Deception was his tool. He made what was forbidden look so good that Eve was fooled.

And isn’t that what he still does today? The devil deceives us. He makes the very things that are bad for us look so good and so normal. Yet hiding behind our normal is a great danger.

The question is, where have you been deceived? What are you tiptoeing in that will Satan wants to trap you in? You’re not seeing that danger for what it really is. It’s not harmless. It’s deception and you are the one being deceived into the plan of the enemy who will have you forfeiting the fullness of life you were created for and instead have you trapped in a life of bondage, addiction, perversion and settling.

What is it that you do and then you dismiss it as normal because “everyone else does it”? If everyone else does it, then isn’t it a pattern of this world? God’s word tells me I’m not supposed to do what everyone else is doing. Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his pleasing and perfect will.”

If you’re having trouble knowing what God’s will is and what he wants you to do, then check and see if you’re just doing what the rest of this world does and therefore being blocked by your own thoughts. The rest of the world is on their phones. The rest of the world spends hours scrolling. The rest of the word is checking boxes of obligation, going through the motions, but not fully engaged. God says you will be transformed and changed when you start thinking differently. The devil cannot deceive the mind that refuses to give in to the patterns of this world. And the mind that cannot be deceived is the life that can hear, know and follow God’s pleasing and perfect will.

Throughout the Bible, we see the effects of the deception of Satan. We see it show up in people who become prideful, people who decide to do things their own way, people who want more power and control, people who grow jealous, and people who just do what everyone else is doing. Eve was the first to be deceived, Adam was next. He ate the forbidden fruit because Eve was eating it.

Now, here we are in the very last book of the Bible and the enemy is still deceiving God’s people. He’s still doing his nasty work of making the wrong things look completely normal. That’s what’s happening in the city of Pergamum. So, Jesus tells John to write this letter to his people there. Revelation 2: 12-17:

Write this letter to the angel of the church of Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword: (This means the one with God’s word. The one who knows the truth and speaks the truth. God’s word can cut through the layers of excuses and deception, all the way down to the truth.)

“I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me.”

This city was under a stronghold of Satan. And my guess is, most everyone living there thought it was all just normal.

“You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city. But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.”

This is the deception of the devil. He made what was wrong look normal. And Jesus is not pleased. Even if they weren’t doing it, they were TOLERATING it, so it was growing.

“Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

To repent means to turn around. To change directions. It means while this may be normal, it will no longer be my normal. I will not do it just because everyone else is doing it. I will not tolerate this is my home.

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven.” (Manna is God’s perfect provision. Did you know God has perfect provision hidden away for you and he wants to give it to you?)

“And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.”

Oh let’s talk about this white stone with a new name. What is Jesus revealing to us here? I find this to be so exciting!

At this time, a white stone represented several different things.

• In ancient Greece, jury members would cast a stone to vote for someone’s innocence or guilt. A black stone proclaimed the defendant guilty. A white stone proclaimed innocence and freedom. A white stone will be ours because Jesus has paid the price for our guilt and we are now proclaimed INNOCENT. The white stone is cast for us! Imagine that. Jesus holds a white stone just for you and it says, “I vote innocent.”

Innocent even when I’ve lost my way. Innocent even when I was deceived and fit right in with the patterns of the world. Innocent even when I was wrong and did wrong. A white stone is held by Jesus for me.

But also, think of this white stone Jesus tells his people about like this:

• In ancient Rome, there was a custom of awarding white stones to the winners in athletic games. Instead of medals around their neck, they received a white stone with their name inscribed on it. This stone then became their ticket to special awards banquets. If they had the stone, then they were a winner, and they could attend the special winner celebrations.

The white stone with our new name on it is Jesus telling his people we are his winners. As his winners, we gain entrance to the eternal victory celebration in heaven!!!! And, when we arrive, we get a new name. A name only he knows, but when he gives it to us, we will understand it.

Neurosciene reveals our brain literally activates when we hear our own name. We receive a small dopamine boost when our name is mentioned. My mentor’s first and favorite book was “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnigie. That book says “A person’s name is to that person, the sweetest sound in any language.” To you, your name being spoken means you’re seen, you’re included, you’re valued.

So, when Jesus himself gives you a white stone with a new name engraved on it, it will be the ultimate reward of knowing Jesus sees you. He’s included you. He values you. He wants you. He holds space for you. And you will understand it unlike anything else, ever. It will reveal everything you’ve ever questioned and set it all right, personally for you.

Then you, and your white stone with your new glorious name, will gain access to the eternal celebration in the most most perfect paradise.

But we’re not there quite yet. Here on earth, we’re bombarded with the deceptions of the devil that leave us tolerating the evil things that have just become normal.

1 Corinthians 15:33 warns, “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good habits.”

Who are you hanging out with? Have they been deceived? Are you tolerating that deception and allowing those things to just become normal? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in breaking free from the patterns of this world so you are not trapped by the evil plans of the enemy.

We’re called to live different. And yes, living different is a battle we have to fight. But remember, a white stone with a new name awaits those who are victorious and we get to celebrate together forever in an eternal perfect paradise! It will be worth it!

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