The definition of deception includes manufacturing in the eyes of someone that something is of value when it has no value.  Examples of deception include changing your college transcripts to look better for a potential employer; giving money to the church for your own recognition instead of giving an offering to show God that you love Him; or pretending to be a doctor or minister when you do not have the capability to heal or minister to people. Someone that uses deception is a liar and offers no value (Job 13:4, “But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value”).

BIBLE SCRIPTURE: Job 13:4, “But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.”

Another aspect of the definition of deception is that it is only temporary. A deception is only a deception until it is found out. It is temporary. On the other hand, truth is eternal. Many of us use deception to fool others as well as ourselves. Most of us put our hope in material things such as money, other people, or our own abilities. The promises of material things as well as actual material things are only temporary and are not eternal. We either fool ourselves or others when we put our hope in material things, imagined or not. We live a deceptive life style when we put our hope into temporary things and not eternal. Eternal things are of God. He is our only hope, the eternal source of love, and eternal truth. He is the only one that is in control and can offer us eternal life (Job 27:8, “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?”).

BIBLE SCRIPTURE: Job 27:8, “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?”

A Christian aspect of the definition of deception is that the act of deception leads us away from God. When we are being untruthful to ourselves or others, we are separated from God. Deception involves being a false witness and to be a false witness is a sin. God cannot be in the presence of sin. Lies and deceptions lead us away from God. Truth on the other hand delivers us from sin and brings us back into harmony with God (Proverbs 14:25, “A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies”).

BIBLE SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 14:25, “A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.”

God cannot be in the presence of sin. A key Christian aspect of the definition of deception is that it is a sin. Deception is no more than a lie. It hides the truth. When we deceive people, God separates Himself from us. He will neither show His face nor listen to us when we are spreading deception. When deception is present there is no justice, nor truth. With deception there is only lies that birth sin (Isaiah 59:2-4, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity”).

BIBLE SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."