People are universally deceived
by Charles Simeon. Do not let him who is deceived
trust in vanity, for vanity shall be his recompense. Job chapter
15 verse 31. People are universally deceived
through the influence of their own corrupt hearts, a tempting
world, and a subtle adversary. and that deception manifests
itself particularly in the trust which they place in lying vanities. They think themselves to be possessed
of goodness and righteousness in such a degree as to warrant
their expectation of happiness and blessedness in the eternal
world. But if you dare to tell them
from God's Word that they are wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked, they will deny your opinions as utterly
false and ridicule them as madness. They have no idea that they need
the influence of the Holy Spirit to enlighten their minds, or
the blood of Christ to atone for their sins, or the grace
of Christ to renovate their hearts. They do not perceive that in
Jesus there is a fullness of all that they can need for time
and eternity, and that in him alone there is wisdom for the
blind, righteousness for the guilty, sanctification for the
polluted, and redemption for the enslaved. Jesus is all of
this to those who trust in him. Do not let him who is deceived
trust in vanity, for vanity shall be his recompense. Job chapter
15 verse 31. Those who observe lying vanities
forsake their own mercy. Jonah chapter 2 verse 8. This
is what the Lord says, Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns
away from the Lord. Jeremiah chapter 17 verse 5. Professing to be wise, they became
fools. Romans chapter 1 verse 22. For since in the wisdom of God,
the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased
through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who
believe. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses
19 to 21.