Elect: Watch.

A lot of people get hung up on this thing. Including me. 

"For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Whats this deceiving the elect thing about, anyway? Seems impossible. 

Topic of many a conversation. Source of much perplexity. Seems we can't wrap our minds around what sort of deception it would take to deceive the very ones who are aimed for the Kingdom. 

I'm not scratching my head much any more about this one. It's making all kinds of sense to me...

While we're sitting here trying to figure out how the enemy will deceive the most unlikely suspects, I happen to suddenly awake and see how it happens. 

He doesn't necessarily come with some sort of stunning personage, or amazing new doctrine. (although those are certainly both possibilities...)

No, I've watched him come in with simple stuff. Like money. Or fame. Or you name it, he's bringing it. 

And God's very elect are falling for it, hook line and sinker. 

And I'm starting to realize that deception means it's not really something that smacks you upside the head and makes you do what the deceiver wants you to do, but instead grabs you at your weakest, most vulnerable point. 

As I sit and watch my friends leave the church, one by one, without even realizing what they're doing, I find a whole new meaning for this verse:

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."