Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

A couple months ago (when I first started writing this post!), I was watching one of my favorite shows on Netflix and something horrible happened.

My favorite character turned out to be a bad guy. And not just a “bad guy”, but a really, really bad bad guy! You may know the feeling - you’re sitting there, just chilling, and all of a sudden you’re screaming at the screen, and your family looks at you like you’re crazy!

I was furious. More furious than I think I’ve ever been at a TV show. I was furious that this character had so totally deceived his team…and me. He was a hero - a great guy who seemed to honestly care about the safety and well-being of his team…and the leading lady. He was considerate, though cold at times, brave, and had endeared himself to the entire team, and saved their lives multiple times. But in truth, he was only a fraud. A traitor. And a dang good one.

This episode was interestingly timed, as just a few days before, I’d listened to an interview on Focus on the Family, and the topic was around how our culture seems hell-bent on tearing down heroes. George Washington? Oh, he owned slaves. Abraham Lincoln? Who’s he? And you can ask anyone on the street to give you seven horrible things that the United States has done, but most won’t be able to answer why the United States of America is one of the greatest countries on the face of the planet.

Anyway, there was a line by this character’s evil boss that stuck with me - chillingly so (I’d also liked the boss’ character, before finding out that he, too, was a bad guy). He said something to the effect of - “The way we bring them down, is just by becoming their friend.”

Isn’t that exactly how our Enemy works?

I mean, there are times when he takes a more direct approach, but the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

Most of the sins humankind struggles with aren’t unpleasant in the moment! The consequences may not appear right away or ever. Satan knows that and uses it to his advantage. He’s sneaky and mixes truth with lies, just like the character in this show did.

It was a good reminder to me that “resisting the devil” is way more than fighting off the “big” and obvious sins in our lives. It’s digging deep to the roots…and that’s really hard.

But if I don't, sooner or later, I will be betrayed.

~~~

In Christ,
Ellie

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