2 Corinthians 11:13-15

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

(v13-15, NIV)

These people who were presenting a different gospel from Paul are false prophets. These people preach something different from the Word of God. We should know that God's word is where we learn about this truth. However, some of them even twist scripture for their own purposes. Similarly, Satan pretends to be a good guy. All these are hard to tell because they don't go up to you telling you flat out that they're deceiving you. If they did that, they wouldn't be deceiving you. It makes me think of two similar things.

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'

" 'An enemy did this,' he replied.

"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "

(Matthew 13:24-30, NIV)

In here, those who are weeds are sown among those who are wheat. It is difficult to tell wheat from the weeds until after they are ready to be harvested. In the same way, you can't tell who will be saved from those who won't be saved right away. Only time will tell.

The other thing the passage made me think of was an analogy given by Pastor Jim Chen a while back. In his sermon I remember him talking about the narrow path and the wide path.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

(Matthew 7:13-14, NIV)

A picture depicted two doors. One was small and one was large. The small one was labelled heaven, going along with the analogy of the wide and narrow path. However, the large door was also labelled heaven. This is because even though it is the path leading to destruction, it's not simply labelled "hell". What I mean to say is that Satan and the false prophets come as the "good guys". They don't come waving the flag telling you who they are. They are deceiving you and it is hard to tell that they are deceivers. However, they will get what they deserve in the end.