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The Biggest Con


   Victor Lustigly was called the king of the confidence men.  With forty-five known aliases, the mastery of five different languages, and nearly fifty arrests in the United States alone, Lustig could swindle even the brightest of marks.  His signature con was the Money Box, a so called "money-printing machine".  He would demonstrate the capability of the small box to clients, all the while lamenting that it took the device six hours to copy a $100 bill.  The client, sensing huge profits, would buy the machines for a high price.  Over the next twelve hours, the machine would produce two more $100 bills.  After that, it produced only blank paper, as its supply of $100 bills became exhausted. By the time the clients realized that they had been scammed, Lustig was long gone.  He had gall as well, he once conned Al Capone. He was so good (or bad really) he even sold the Eiffel tower for scrap metal. Twice!

   Victor Lustigly may be called the king but the true father of lies is the Devil (John 8:44).  His trademark con is one he has been pulling over on men and women for generations, convincing them that they what God says isn't really what he means.  It’s what he did in the garden (Genesis 3:3-5) and it is what he does today.  He will set himself as one you can trust, then convince you that the Truth isn't in fact the whole truth (1st Corinthians 1:1-15).  He (and his workers) will twist the scripture to show what they say is right (Matthew 4:5-6; 2nd Peter 3:16-17) even though it is all a lie.

   Don’t get conned.  Great con artists know the best way to get a mark to fall for a ruse is to make it something they want to be true.  In their desire, they will overlook what in hindsight, should be a red flag.  Then once the hook is set, they will reel you in (James 1:14-16).  When someone is telling you sin is acceptable, that verse doesn't really mean what it says, your opinion is on par with God word, and truth is relative, beware the con is on!

2 Peter 3:17

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
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