Adventurer Gregor MacGregor, also known as Cazique (prince) Gregor of Poyais (an island kingdom in the Bay of Honduras), traveled to London in 1821. To all who would listen he enthused about his island, given to him by King George Frederic Augustus of the Mosquito Coast, Central America.
Cazique Gregor boasted about rivers that sparkled with gold, soil that produced abundant harvests, and a harbor where business thrived. He hoped to find investors in order to develop Poyais.
MacGregor displayed lovely engravings of his idyllic island, detailed maps, and even a guidebook. He carried official land grant forms in order to sell acreage, and offered to exchange the settlers’ pound sterling to Poyais currency, to facilitate their arrival in port.
At least 270 chose to settle there; many more became investors.
But the island turned out to be uninhabitable wilderness. MacGregor was not a prince, he was a con artist. All the documents, maps, currency, and more he’d created himself. His scheme had earned him £200,000 in just one year.
Some of the island-settlers died in the harsh conditions, some moved to Honduras, and still others returned to London. When the returnees exposed MacGregor’s lies, he escaped to France and repeated the deception, earning another £300,000.
Of course, MacGregor was eventually forced to leave France also. He and his wife then returned to her home in Venezuela, where MacGregor died in 1845 [1].
We humans are susceptible to deception. Even the most intelligent can be duped. Just ask those who recently invested with Sam Bankman-Fried.
But where con artists devour the assets of unsuspecting people, there is a “deceiver of the whole world” that seeks to destroy lives: Satan [2].
How does he do it? In the same way of all deceivers–with lies. For example, Satan would have us believe:
- A loving God won’t punish those who try to live right.
- All the world’s religions are valid.
- The Bible is full of myths, irrelevant for today.
- A good God wouldn’t let bad things happen to good people.
- Everyone has to live by their own truth. What’s true for me may not be true for someone else.
But how can we know if these statements are lies?
We begin to recognize lies
when we know the truth.
Beth Moore [3]
The problem is, many people don’t want to know truth, so they don’t seek it. They’ve chosen beliefs that suit themselves and object to anything that interferes with their freedom to do as they like.
But what are the results of believing such lies as listed above, keeping God at a distance, and following our own way? It often leads to suffering– for ourselves and those around us.
Consider the following:
- Depression is on the increase [4]
- Suicide in the U.S. rose to an all-time high in 2022 [5]
- Deaths from drugs and/or alcohol have more than tripled since 1990 [6]
- About half of first marriages end in divorce; second marriages dissolve at a higher rate, and third marriages even higher [7]
- One in seven children in America experienced abuse last year [8]
Granted, not everyone who lives their own way will fall prey to these ills. And we all know Christians who’ve succumbed in spite of their faith. But the statistics among the latter group are much lower [9].
Another important fact: the number of Americans who identify as Christian has decreased from 90% in 1990 to 65% in 2022 [10].
Might it be that a lack of fortifying faith in Christ contributes to the increased rates of suffering listed above? The obvious correlation warrants consideration.
Such statistics also add credence to what scripture has taught for centuries:
As for what happens when we die, should we trust our own thoughts on the subject, or the One who made us, the only One with supreme power over life and death?
Gregor MacGregor’s victims had no way to verify his claims or determine the validity of his documents. We, however, can verify that Christ’s claims and the Bible are true, basing our conclusion upon the wealth of factual evidence available–if we’re willing to seek it out [11].
Each person must decide:
Is it possible I’ve been duped by lies?
If so, what am I going to do about it?
[1] https://www.britannica.com/story/the-craziest-scam-gregor-macgregor-creates-his-own-country
[2] Revelation 12:9; 1 Peter 5:8
[3] Praying God’s Word, 76
[4] https://news.gallup.com/poll/505745/depression-rates-reach-new-highs.aspx
[5] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/cdc-data-finds-suicides-reached-time-high-2022-rcna99327
[6] https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/
[7] https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/divorce/divorce-statistics/
[8]https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/fastfact.html#:~:text=Child%20abuse%20and%20neglect%20are%20common.,year%20in%20the%20United%20States.
[9] https://news.gallup.com/poll/144980/religious-americans-report-less-depression-worry.aspx ; https://humanjourney.org.uk/articles/health-benefits-of-christian-faith/ ; https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/27/christianity-helps-curb-drug-use-study-finds/ ; https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/divorce-rate-in-the-church-as-high-as-the-world/; https://www.quora.com/Are-Christians-more-likely-to-abuse-their-spouse-children
[10] https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/ and https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/how-u-s-religious-composition-has-changed-in-recent-decades/#:~:text=Only%20a%20few%20decades%20ago,thirds%20of%20adults%20are%20Christians
[11] https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/how-do-we-know-the-bible-is-true-2/
Other posts that include examples of the factual evidence available:
- https://nancyaruegg.com/2022/06/02/behold-and-believe/
- https://nancyaruegg.com/2021/01/07/when-truth-unfolds/
- https://nancyaruegg.com/2020/09/03/hezekiahs-tunnel/
- https://nancyaruegg.com/2013/07/05/compelling-evidence/
Photo credits: http://www.nypl.getarchive.net; http://www.rawpixel.net; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.pickpic.com; http://www.wallpaperflare.com.
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From the Inside Out 
Satan is giving confidence to so many staunch unbelievers right now that they’re developing their own following. These followers are comfortable with belittling anyone of faith and trampling on the Ten Commandments. Apparently, it doesn’t make them happy! Thanks, Nancy, for pointing out the growing imbalance of Christians and unbelievers.
Thank you for adding your observations, Nancy. I pray that unbelievers would realize self-gratification never fully satisfies, that they’d be overcome by holy curiosity to seek after truth, and discover the evidence to believe the Bible is actually overwhelming!
We have the tendency to believe anything that ‘sounds’ good without doing the research. It’s unfortunate that even us as Christians struggle in identifying the truth when on every surface in our homes rest a Bible.
You are so right, Brenda. It is a precious gift to have the truth and authority of God’s Word so readily available to us, but we have to become familiar with it and apply it.
Satan is the father of lies! Thank you Nancy for pointing out truth vs lies. So many are deceived.
It is heart-breaking to witness the results of Satan’s deceit as people move away from the faith of our fathers. As I said to Nancy H. above: I pray that unbelievers would realize self-gratification never fully satisfies, that they’d be overcome by holy curiosity to seek after truth, and discover the evidence to believe the Bible is actually overwhelming!
Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. [Rom 10:3] O the doors we open to the enemy when we refuse to submit to God’s way! A timely post indeed…
I’m so glad you found this post be be timely, RH. And thank you for adding Romans 10:3 to the conversation. I pray those who’ve tried to live life their own way (and are admitting it’s lacking) would discover that the emptiness and restlessness in their souls can only be alleviated by a relationship with Jesus!
Amen.
Wow, this was powerful! We do want to believe that deals are available and that great things can be had for a song. We are easily duped because we’ve been at the mercy of the enemy since day one. God has provided us with a great option in Jesus, not a scam but a promise, and to cling to that is the best thing in the world. You’re a wonder at telling stories, Nancy.
Thank you Dayle for your kind words and for adding your voice to the truth: Clinging to Christ’s promise of the abundant life (John 10:10) now and eternal life to come (John 3:16) is the best thing in the world! AMEN to that!
yes, the enemy of our souls is a beast. thank God that greater is He who is in us than he who’s in the world. that’s where we fix our eyes, that’s where our hope is found. i’m so grateful, Nancy.
Thank you for adding to the conversation that great truth from 1 John 4:4, Linda. I too am SO grateful for an all-powerful God to rely on, through whatever I might face!
Sometimes it is easier to believe the lies, isn’t it? The truth convicts and challenges us but is the only way. Thanks for such a thoughtful post!
You are so right, Jean. We humans do have a propensity to follow our own way, looking for short-term gratification instead of taking the long view, making “every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (God)–2 Peter 3:14. The way to lasting joy is obedience to God (John 15:10-11)! I need to remind myself of these truths often.
John 3:16 tells us all we need to know: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is the truth that we share with the world!
Amen, Linda, and praise God for the stunning truth of that familiar verse!
It’s so accurate how you said folks aren’t just ignorant of the truth, they choose to ignore it.
Meanwhile, the devil, and his demon friends, are happy to improvise some “look-alike forgeries.
The goal is obviously to keep people blindfolded until they die without being reconciled to God.
Christian’s need to be the light of the world now more than ever!
Great post, Nancy. I love how you delve into history to illustrate a biblical application.
David, I’m so glad there are still a few of us who appreciate history and what it has to teach us! I couldn’t agree with you more: we need to reflect God’s light in our world–with urgency. Lord, give us wisdom and boldness to do so with bright results!
Satan hasn’t changed his tactics at all over the centuries, has he? Just like in the garden, he whispers in our ear: “Did God say?” And thus the seed of doubt is planted. Like you point out, we need to go to the Bible and listen to God’s words. Live in obedience to Him alone. Your blog is so timely for this insane world we live in, where taking a stand is becoming harder but no less necessary. Blessings, Nancy.
Good point you make here, Patty: Satan’s tactics today are no different than back in the Garden of Eden. (He’s not very creative, is he!) Nonetheless, he can still wreak havoc. That’s why it’s so beneficial to know what the Bible says, as we live cross-grain to the insanity he’s triggering in our world. Beth Moore said it so well, didn’t she (as quoted in this post): “We begin to recognize lies when we know the truth.” Then we’re not so susceptible to Satan’s lies and the harmful repercussions!
You hit the nail on the head Nancy with your words “The problem is, many people don’t want to know truth, so they don’t seek it. They’ve chosen beliefs that suit themselves and object to anything that interferes with their freedom to do as they like.” Sadly this applies inside the church as well. There were so many red flags in MacGregor’s offer which is true in any of Satan’s utopian sounding schemes. Thank goodness the Lord has given us the Holy Spirit to point out the red flags.
You’re right, Beth. We in the church can be guilty of choosing which of God’s precepts we’re going to follow, and ignore the ones we find disagreeable. Praise God for his mercy and forgiveness, his discipline that trains us toward greater obedience! And, as you noted, thank goodness he’s given us his Holy Spirit to point out the red flags. Thank you for sharing your insight, Beth!
Very timely post as we have recently witnessed even some historically evangelical churches go the way of the world by being ‘inclusive’ (and supportive) of those who live contradictory to God’s word. Truth is often uncomfortable and some find it easier to go with the current world flow rather than to take God at His word that how they are living is a sinful life in need of Salvation. This is very dangerous when a church does not preach against sin, for that church is leading people away from their need for God.
It IS heart-breaking to see God’s people splinter over issues that we ought to be able to resolve over scripture. I pray that lies will be exposed and truth would shine with clarity so even after the fact, many will choose to seek God and his righteousness, and as a result, experience his peace, joy, and contentment.
I had to share with you that the devotional I read after commenting on your blog is also about truth! Certainly a God-Incident! (I love those!)
That happens to you quite frequently–I love it! 😁
very, very powerful!! Thank you for this wonderful dose of truth!!
Thank you, Katie. I praise God for his inspiration as he guides the writing of each post.