Have you ever genuinely believed something, only to find out that you had been deceived? We all THINK things are true, genuine, false, good, bad, etc. sometimes, but human thoughts are fallible, and cannot always be depended upon.

There are many things around us which we may think look fun, appealing, true, educational, etc. etc., but what we THINK is not enough: we must base our decisions on more than our own thoughts.

How many times human thoughts prove to be mistaken or impossible to carry out. Let's turn to the Scriptures for some examples:

"And Abraham journeyed from thence, toward the south country, and dwelled between Cadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.' And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But Yahweh came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, ‘Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken: for she is a man's wife.' And Abimelech had not come near unto her: and he said, ‘Yahweh, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this thing.' And Elohim said unto him in a dream, ‘Yea, I know that thou didst this is the integrity of thy heart: for I also withheld thee from sinning against Me, therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife: for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.' Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, ‘What hast thou done unto us? And what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me, and on my kingdom, a great sin? Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not be done.' And Abimelech said unto Abraham, ‘What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?' And Abraham said, ‘Because I THOUGHT, Surely the fear of Elohim is not in this place, and they will slay me for my wife's sake.' " (Genesis 20:1-11) It is obvious that Abraham's thoughts were incorrect. He passed a judgment on those around him, and due to his incorrect reasoning and thinking, he fell into a deal of sin and trouble himself.

Sometimes, things can seem to be very true. We can be completely convinced that something is fact, and yet be wrong. "And Israel said unto Joseph, ‘I had not THOUGHT to see thy face: and lo, Elohim hath shewed me also thy seed.' " (Genesis 48:11) So convincing had been the falsehood when Israel's sons told him that he thought in his mind that there was no possibility of him ever seeing his son Joseph again, but Yahweh did exceedingly above all that Israel could have asked or even thought (Ephesians 3:20), by causing him to meet up with both his son and his son's children.

"And Joseph said unto [his brothers], ‘But as for you, ye THOUGHT evil against me (in selling me to the traders), but Elohim meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.’ " (Genesis 50:19-20) In spite of the wicked thoughts that some would think, Yahweh is in control, and He can accomplish much good, even in situations where we think nothing but evil could come of it.

"Now Hannah, she spake in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore, Eli THOUGHT she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, ‘How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee.' And Hannah answered and said, ‘No, my master, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before Yahweh. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of belial, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.' " (1 Samuel 1:13-15) Sometimes we make wrong judgments and false accusations due to being uninformed or misinformed, and thus thinking something erroneous. This is something we must be careful of.

"It came even to pass on the third day that behold, a man came out of the camp of Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was when he came to David, that fell to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said unto him, ‘From whence comest thou?' And he said unto him, ‘Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.' And David said unto him, ‘How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me.' And he answered, ‘That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.' And David said unto the young man that told him, ‘How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?' And the young man that told him said, ‘As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear: and lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me, and I answered, Here I am. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I said, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. Then I stood upon him and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my master.' " (2 Samuel 1:2-10) Looking back to 1 Samuel 31, it is clear that this story the young man told to David was not at all factual. It appears as though he told it merely because he THOUGHT David would be happy to be rid of Saul and be pleased with him for bringing about his demise. He was utterly wrong though, as we find in 2 Samuel 1:14-16 ~ "And David said unto him, ‘How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand, to destroy Yahweh's anointed?' And David called one of the young men, and said, ‘Go near, and fall upon him.' And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, ‘Thy blood be upon thy head: for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Yahweh's anointed.' " By his incorrect thinking (which led to committing the sin of lying), this young men brought about his own untimely death. How dangerous thoughts can be.

"Moreover, the Philistines had yet war again with Israel, and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines, and David waxed faint. And Ishbi-benob which was of the sons of the giant (the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight), he being girded with a new sword, THOUGHT to have slain David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiyah, succored him and smote the Philistine and killed him." (2 Samuel 21:15-17a) This Philistine thought that the strength of man would carry him through, but he found out the hard way that that was a wrong assumption, and that the strength of Yahweh was much greater.

"Now Naaman captain of the host of the King of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given deliverance unto Syria: He was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper. And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid, and she waited on Naaman's wife. And she said unto her mistress, ‘Would Elohim my master were with the prophet that is in Samaria, for he would recover him of his leprosy.' And one went in and told his master, saying, ‘Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.' " (2 Kings 5:1-4) Following the maid's advice, Naaman went to Israel, and arriving at Elisha's door, he beheld a messenger of Elisha the prophet, who came out and delivered a message to him from Elisha: "Go and wash in Jordan seven times and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean." (2 Kings 5:10) Naaman's reaction? "But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, ‘Behold, I THOUGHT, He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the Name of Yahweh his Elohim, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them and be clean?' So he turned and went away in a rage." (2 Kings 5:11-12) Naaman’s preconceived notions hindered him from unconditional obedience and healing. It was only when he was willing to lay down his thoughts and do things the right way that he could receive cleansing.

"Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and THOUGHT to win them for himself." (2 Chronicles 32:1) Sennacherib made this declaration to the people of Israel: "Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? Were the elohim of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? Who was there among all the elohim of those nations, that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your Elohim should be able to deliver you out of mine hand. No elohim of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your Elohim deliver you out of mine hand?" (2 Chronicles 32:13-15) King Sennacherib supposed that Yahweh was built of the same weak material that all of the idols were. What he didn't know was that Yahweh wasn't built at all, but simply had always been, and that, while the idols of the nations were nothing at all, Yahweh really was somebody. Yahweh's judgment came down harshly upon this evil king: "And Yahweh sent a messenger which cut of all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria: so he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his elohim, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword." (2 Chronicles 32:21)

"And [Yahshua] spake a parable unto them, saying, ‘The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he THOUGHT within himself, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do, I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But Elohim said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided.' " (Luke 12:16-20) This man thought he had secured a life of selfish ease and pleasurable laziness, but Yahweh had other plans.

"Then laid they their hands upon them, and they received the set-apart Spirit. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the set-apart Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this gift, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the set-apart Spirit.' But Peter said unto him, ‘Thy money perish with thee, for thou hast THOUGHT that the gift of Yahweh may be purchased with money. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray Yahweh, if perhaps the THOUGHT of thine heart may be forgiven thee.' " (Acts 8:17-20, 22) This passage brings out the important truth that even thoughts can be sin. Do we ever underestimate Yahweh's power? Do we ever regard it lighter than it really is? Do we ever try to compare it to something human (such as Simon trying to compare the gift of the set-apart Spirit to a magic trick), thus cheapening Yahweh in our own eyes and the eyes of others, and falling prey to the sin of wrongful thinking?

"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the assembly unto Yahweh for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold, the messenger of Yahweh came upon him, and a light shined in the prison, and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, ‘Arise up quickly.' And his chains fell off from his hands. And the messenger said unto him, ‘Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.' And so he did. And he saith unto him, ‘Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.' And went out, and followed him, and wist not that it was true which was done by the messenger: but THOUGHT he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city, which openeth to them of his own accord: and they went out and passed on through one street, and forthwith the messenger departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, ‘Now I know of a surety that Yahweh hath sent His messenger, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the Jews.' " (Acts 12:5-11) Once again we see Yahweh doing mightily above all that we might ask or think, according to His heavenly power. He is great. We do not need to limit him to our little thought patterns and notions.

"Why should it be THOUGHT a thing incredible with you, that Elohim should raise the dead?" (Acts 26:8) There are some things which the human mind cannot perceive unless we are willing to let go of our thoughts and embrace Yahweh's thoughts.

"And Yahshua said unto [Zacheus], ‘This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is the son of Abraham. For the Son of Adam is come to seek and to save that which was lost.' And as they heard these things,.... they THOUGHT that the Kingdom of Elohim should immediately appear." (Luke 19:11) "[Yahshua] saith unto [His disciples], ‘Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go, that may awake him out of sleep.' Then said his disciples, ‘Master, if he sleep, he shall do well.' Howbeit, Yahshua spake of his death, but they THOUGHT that He had spoken of taking a rest in sleep." (John 11:11-13) How often our human minds tend to think in the physical perspective, when Yahweh is calling us to look at things in the light of eternity.

How easily humanity becomes misinformed or deceived. How prone we are to think things that are completely erroneous. We are only human, and our knowledge is limited. Thus, our own perceptions and misjudgments, the words of others, etc. can quickly cause us to think things that are contrary to truth. It is no big deal if we think a blue sweater is purple or if we think it’s cold outside when it’s really warm. But, when it comes to bigger issues, we can get ourselves in a lot of trouble. The young man who came to speak to David thought that his dishonesty would gain him honor; instead, he met his death. King Sennacherib thought that he was mightier than Yahweh; he too met his death. The Assyrian captain thought that he would be healed on the spot with no personal effort or cooperation; had he continued thinking along those lines, he never would have been healed. There are two destinies for mankind: one is life eternal, and the other is death. The choices we make, the ways we think, and the things we believe will affect our personal destinies.

Are we basing our thoughts on preconceived notions, the opinions of men, personal preferences, and fears? Or are we basing them on the Word. Yahweh understands that we are human and that we all think incorrect things sometimes. But there are some areas in which we simply cannot afford to be wrong. Yahweh clearly stated, "The thought of foolishness is sin." (Proverbs 24:9) The apostle Shaul exhorts us to bring "into captivity EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Messiyah." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

We are human, and we are prone to err. When it comes to things like salvation, we had better be sure that our thoughts match up with Yahweh’s thoughts. There are all kinds of thoughts circulating about how to be saved. Some say we must be a member of a given church. Others tell us we have to pay penance to the priest. Still others say that all we have to do is call on Jesus, and that no matter what we do or how we do at, as long as we call on him he will save us. The important thing is that we don't go with every theory that blows by on the wind. The important thing is that we line up all assumptions with the Word of Yahweh and determine by His Word what is false and what is true. In Isaiah 55:7-9, Yahweh says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his THOUGHTS: and let him return unto Yahweh, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our Elohim, for He will abundantly pardon. For My THOUGHTS are not your THOUGHTS, neither are your ways My ways, saith Yahweh. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My THOUGHTS than your THOUGHTS." Let us seek a better and higher standard, Yahweh's standard, against which to measure and prove our thoughts. When we are careful to do this, then we may say as Peter said in Acts 12, "Now I KNOW of a SURETY that Yahweh hath delivered me."