Background: We know the things we know but when you think you know something and you really don’t, you look like a fool.
Deception. Don’t let it happen to you. This word simply means to mislead by a false appearance or statement. Or to be unfaithful. In my case I was both a victim of the first definition and perpetrator of the second. I was deceived by our nemesis, AKA the author of confusion. Deceived into thinking that my grandiose ideas were too big for completion. And by believing the lie, I became unfaithful to God. Now how does that look, you got a good man at home but you go sneaking around with the deadbeat that you know has no intention on treating you with respect. How can we do this to God?! ( I say we cause I know I’m not the only one).
The first 9 verses of Proverbs chapter 31 give us a glimpse into a dialogue, ok maybe a monologue, between a prince and his mother. She is basically advising him to steer clear of distractions, they’ll make you forget what you’re really supposed to be doing. Not only that, you generally change your allegiance when you yield to distractions. Our mommas and grandmommas are typically the wisest people on earth to us. And when ever we got to a place where we were smelling ourselves, they were quick to check us. Well, God is no different. He’s the Master of everything and He uses His Holy Spirit to check you when you’re being deceived. He knows what’s best for us, and we know he knows, but we allow ourselves to be lured away by lies.
I feel like the prince in the passage. The responsibilities and ideas God has given me impact others. Participation in deceptive thoughts about my capability to meet the expectations of these responsibilities can negatively impact my reputation and damage my future in the roles I’ve been given. It really all boils down to trust. Will you trust a lie or truth. Will you embrace the one who loves you or the one who really wants to see you fail. When you put in black and white like that, why would you allow yourself to be deceived? If it were that simple, we’d all steer clear of deception. But it has a way of associating itself with past experiences, playing on your fears and desires in order to hinder you from obtaining a higher purpose or goal. You become afraid of the truth, even angry with others around you that expose the truth. Deception is an ugly beast.
I’ll close the same way I started. Deception. Don’t let it happen to you. It can carry you so far out to sea that you forget what direction land is in. And at that point, when you’ve lost direction, you rely on the lie to set your course. Always seek truth and embrace it. Don’t doubt it’s power in your life. Hold on to the people who are true and expose those whose objective is to feed you a lie that will ultimately deceive you.
References: Proverbs 31:1-9
