Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
In today’s study (Colossians 2:1-10) we’re told to “Beware”, which means to be on one’s guard. Beloved, when God says to beware of something or someone, we best take heed to His admonition. Beware means that this something or someone is a danger. This is something or someone that needs to be avoided at all costs. The word “spoil” that Paul uses in verse 8 can also be translated kidnapped or taken captive. Peter wrote, Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before (about Jesus Christ and the gospel), beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness (2 Peter 3:17). This is the bottom line or the objective of all of the secular world’s academic and religious systems: to kidnap the child of God with their empty philosophies and ideas.
Secular and worldly philosophy is really the effort of fallen man to determine the ultimate causes in the earth and the universe apart from God as being The Source of origin as it is revealed in the Scriptures. They seek to answer questions like, How did the universe come about? Why was I born? What is my purpose in life? From the fall in the garden to the present moment, fallen man has sought to explain the reasons for existence, the purpose of living, and all of the phenomena of the universe. They operate with humanistic and clouded judgments based on the mindset of this world system, and not the truths about Jesus Christ, The Anointed One. The Holy Spirit calls these worldly philosophies and religious frauds “vain deceit” (Colossians 2:8). They are a baited hook, for at the end of the day, they offer you no real answers to the origin of the universe, no real help in time of need, and ultimately no real hope after death.
The only message that makes any real sense in this senseless world is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The only message that offers any real hope at the graveside of a loved one is the gospel of Jesus Christ. By laying aside the Holy Scriptures, people are being kidnapped by the godless theory of evolution. They are being led astray by the godless notion that truth is relative or that there is no such thing as absolute truth. To which I would ask the question, is that an absolute statement?
Precious reader, The Lord Jesus Christ is the measure for all human knowledge since He is the Creator and the Sustainer of the universe. So I too say, beware of the leaven of secular, unbiblical, worldly philosophy. I am deeply concerned by the increasing number of believers that have embraced the philosophies behind godless, secular counseling. The real answers to the matters of the heart and soul are in Christ, “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). The comfort, compassion, guidance and help that we need come from The Comforter Himself, The Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ and The Word of God is the yardstick by which to measure every human philosophy. Trust your eternal soul unto The One Who rose from the dead, and reject all and any false religious systems and worldly philosophies that are the devil’s means of leading many people astray to a godless eternity in hell. Selah.
