HOW EASY... HOW HARD

"How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again!" – Mark Twain

Mark Twain, one of America’s most celebrated writers, was a man of sharp wit and deep skepticism. Twain entertained millions with humor, but he also wrestled with profound questions about God, truth, and human nature. Ironically, one of his most famous observations perfectly illustrates the spiritual condition that he, like many others, tragically embodied:

"How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again!"

Twain’s insight is painfully true in the realm of faith. Scripture repeatedly warns that self-deception is one of the greatest dangers to the human soul. The Apostle Paul cautioned the saints in Colossae: "I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments" (Colossians 2:4), and just a few verses later, "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

Many reject the truth of God’s Word -not- because it lacks evidence, but because they do not want to acknowledge they've been wrong all along. The "backfire effect" is when people become more entrenched in their false beliefs even after being presented with overwhelming evidence. Christian apologist Frank Turek, often frames debates with skeptics and atheists with the question, "If Christianity were true, would you become a Christian?" Many respond, "No," which reveals their rejection of Christianity, and ultimately Christ, is not an intellectual issue, but a volitional and moral one. Admitting we've been deluded and deceived requires humility, repentance, and submission to the authority of Jesus Christ. But as the Apostle Paul explains in Romans chapter 1, "they suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18), "those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:32).

Twain, like Abraham's nephew Lot, suffered the dire consequences of leaning on his own understanding and trusting in what “seemed” reasonable rather than trusting in the LORD with all his heart (Pr 3:5-6), refusing to submit to God’s perfect divine wisdom. "And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other." (Genesis 13:10-11)

Lot made a pragmatic choice based on limited information and outward appearances. The land of Sodom looked like paradise. Yet, by following what seemed right, he placed himself and his family in spiritual peril (Genesis 13:13). His decision led to moral corruption, personal loss, and tragedy. Lot's response should have been like Ruth's refusal to separate from Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17).

Twain followed a similar pattern. He relied on his intellect, reasoning, and skepticism rather than submitting to the authority of God’s Word. He invested poorly—not just financially (which he did) but also spiritually. He saw the corruption of men (so did Martin Luther) who claimed to be Christians and concluded that Christianity itself was false. He rejected the doctrine of biblical inerrancy and the authority of Scripture, seeing it as the invention of fallible men rather than the inspired Word of God. Twain effectively threw out the baby with the bathwater. This was a deeply flawed conclusion, one rooted in his own bias and rebellion rather than in truth.

Twain’s primary mistake was rejecting the truth of God’s Word based on what sinful human beings did with it. This is an error Jesus and the apostles warned about repeatedly. Christ was clear that wolves would come in among the flock (Matthew 7:15), and the Apostle Paul revealed that Satan himself "masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). "So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:15)

If Scripture itself warns that false teachers, deceivers, and hypocrites will arise in the name of Christ, then we should not be surprised when they do! Nor should their corruption lead us to reject the truth of God’s Word. The presence of counterfeits doesn't negate the authenticity of the real thing. Twain, in his self-righteousness, however, made the classic mistake of holding God accountable for the failures of sinful men. Rather than distinguishing between Christ and corrupt religious institutions, he threw out the truth because of those who twisted it for their own gain.

Christ Himself rebuked false religion more than anyone else. He condemned the Pharisees (Matthew 23), warned against false prophets (Matthew 7:15-23), and made clear that not all who claim His name are truly His (Matthew 7:21-23). If Twain had been searching for truth, he would have found that Scripture exposes the very hypocrisy he despised—and provides the only answer to it in Jesus Christ.

Twain’s rejection of God was not ultimately about evidence—it was about his heart. Scripture tells us that human beings are not neutral in our beliefs. The fallen heart is deceitful, self-serving, and bent toward rebellion:

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" -Jeremiah 17:9

At its core, unbelief is not intellectual—it is spiritual rebellion. People reject Christ because they do not want to submit to Him as LORD. They prefer self-rule, self-determination, and self-worship over submission to the true and living God. Jesus made this clear:

"Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." -John 3:19

And so, they willingly and willfully choose the wide road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). This is not a matter of being "fooled" intellectually—it is a matter of the willful suppression of truth for the sake of autonomy and sin.

Twain's famous quote should challenge us—but not in the way he may have intended. Yes, how easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again! But more importantly, it is easier to continue in self-deception and self-righteousness than to humble ourselves before God. This is why repentance and faith require the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Left to ourselves, we will always choose deception. We will lean on our own understanding, do what seems right, rationalize, excuse, justify, and double-down on our rebellion. But Christ, in His mercy, calls us to turn from our foolish ways and embrace Him as the exclusive way, truth, and life:

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." -Proverbs 14:12

We must not make Twain’s mistake—rejecting the objective and immutable truth of God's Word because of the hypocrisy of some who claim it. Instead, we should fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, the One who, while we were yet sinners, died for us (Romans 5:8).

Don't be fooled by the empty philosophies of the world and its pseudo-wisdom. Don't allow cynicism and self-reliance to continue leading you down the wide path that ends with unending torment and eternal destruction in separation from God. Instead, heed the voice of Christ, who alone is the only way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). The question is not whether we've allowed ourselves to be fooled—it's whether we'll listen now as the Truth Himself calls us to repentance. Will you?

Blessings and love, Kevin M. Kelley

Senior Pastor

BigIslandChristianChurch.com