Things aren't always as they seem. I have been pondering this notion a lot in recent days. If you really think about it and look around you, you can see this every where you turn. Bare with me as I elaborate on this notion in the next several lines.
As long as there has been any form of advertisement in this world, I believe this notion has held true. Whether it was the caveman's etchings on the cave walls "talking" about the bear that he just clubbed or it is the t.v. commercial showing men how many women will want to be with them if they choose the right shaving cream. In whatever the venue the art of advertising has always had some sort of deceitful picture portrayed in its message.
Every four years our great land goes through a presidential campaign. You may be a fan of this blood sport, but most people, however, are not so much. Regardless of your particular stance on it you do have to admit that at least we are a free nation who gets to participate in this blood sport whether you agree with the tactics and mudslinging or not. One thing most of us can probably agree on is that some where along the line at least one of the candidates in each presidential race could be classified as a wolf in sheep's clothing.
I just read on facebook (one of my favorite dependable sources of hard hitting fact finding) a line that I feel is very fitting for this very subject. It goes something like this: "All 16 year old girls need to be taught the difference between the boys that flatter her and the boys who compliment her." Heck there are probably some 40 year olds that need to be taught that lesson for that matter. But what the message is saying is you need to be on the look out for people, male or female who would do or say anything to schmooz you until you see things their way. It's more important for you to surround yourself with the people who truly bring out the best in you.
The art of deception or the master of being a wolf in sheep's clothing goes clear back to the beginning of time itself in the Garden of Eden. The serpent came to the woman, Eve, and tempted her to eat of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He was trying to make her believe through his deceit that she could truly be god-like if she would simply do the one thing that God had commanded her not to do. He was a smooth talker and introduced to Eve the first commercial message that made her do something just to get a desired result. Of course where was Adam in all of this? Passively standing by letting it all happen. Then as he was confronted by God after the incident of the first sin in the world, he just blamed it all on the woman that God brought to him. Everything was great in their little garden until she came along. Unfortunately, all was just great in that little garden of theirs until the serpent came to tempt them. Now the key is just to resist the urges of the great deceiver, the first wolf in sheep's clothing that still exists today.
If you haven't guessed by now, or if you are not familiar with this concept of a wolf in sheep's clothing, I will tell you. It is any one or anything that comes to flatter you and deceit you to have you believe a lie in order to get you to do something that you truly should not do or in order to win you over. A sheep is a very, passive compliant animal that can be lead astray very easily. A wolf is the enemy of the sheep and the sheep herder. His only goal is to look out for number one and to devour his next meal. Some times people will do what they can to fit in, to blend into their surroundings in a deceitful way in order to get their target comfortable with them so they can more easily devour the target at the most vulnerable moment.
It says in Psalms 23 that the Lord is my shepherd... It also says in the Bible that the Lord is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. That means he will never change. It also says in His word never will I leave you nor forsake you. We are surrounded by people every day who are wolves in sheep' clothing. The key is don't be drawn in to their evil and deceitful ways. Whether it is a stupid ad on the t.v., a politician trying to convince you to vote for him or some stupid guy trying to get you to do anything, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Every one of us is human therefore we are susceptible to the evil of the wolf in sheep's clothing. Don't fall for it. Do the right thing and ask God for his direction.
