Do not be trapped in continuous deception

Jim Honeycutt

Chaplain-Baptist Minister

He was quite a sight standing there, a burlap sack in one hand, a flashlight in the other. With a look of fear on his face, yet determined to see this through.

Fully the moon glowed, but clouds hid the comforting light that it reflected. 

In the distance, not to far that he couldn’t see, his father stood watching his every move. Beside his father stood his older brother waiting. Waiting until the moment he would be sent. In another corner of the fields, a group laughed, sharing the awful delight of what they had done. “We really fooled him, didn’t we?” they boasted. “It never gets old! How gullible he was, to believe our story.”

Little did they realize, besides watching over his young son, the father knew full well what they were up too. 

“Father, why did you allow those other boys to lead him so far away?” his brother asked.

“He must learn, before he can choose what to believe son,” spoke the father. “The only way to that is to see deception’s ploy first hand.”

So, they stood, watching, waiting, ready to act. 

Within the mind of the young boy, thoughts raced around, clouding his mind like that late night sky. A pounding he could hear rose within him. His little heart beating so strong, so fast, it felt like it would burst from his chest.

“Why did I believe those guys?” he pondered. “Bet there’s no such thing as a snipe.”

Trying to calm his mind, he thought back to earlier, while sitting around the campfire, listening to the older boys. He had been drawn into a fantastic story, the adventures of snipe hunting. Using all the cunningness of a snake, they wove their tale, hoping he would take the bait… which he had.

Now feeling alone, abandoned, played for a fool, he began to weep. Emotion poured from his little eyes. All he wanted, all he desired, all he needed, was his father.

“Daddy,” he cried aloud. Without delay, the father turned to the older brother, who ran at a sprint to retrieve the younger. The clouds parted, the moon so bright it appeared as day. Calling as he ran, his voice gave instant comfort to his sibling. Turning towards his approaching salvation, dropping the tools of his deception in the dirt, hope replaced dread.

“I’ve got you!” spoke the older son.

“Where is my daddy?”

“He is close, I will take you to him.”

The older son reached out his hand. The younger grasped it. “No more tears little brother. I will hold you tight!” With purpose the older son brought the younger to their father. Bending low, the father lifted his son up from the dirt, wiping his tears away with his hand.

“I was tricked, Daddy! Why would they do that?”

“That’s what they do, son. That’s what they do. But I’ve delivered you from their deception, by sending your brother to protect you from the darkness. Come let us go home.”

“What about the others, Daddy?”

Sternly, his father said, “You called your father. Let them call theirs.”

We all know what it is like to be deceived. The first we experience may come in the form of trickery played for the entertainment of others. Often lighthearted, men use pranks, as they are called, to make the target fill included or vulnerable. Other early deception comes in the form of tales told children to direct behavior in a direction a parent wishes.

In time, as we learn how to deceive, we begin to use its ways for personal benefit. To those who believe they are above deception, the hooks are already set. In a world where deception is the language of the day, real intent is difficult to see clearly. Besides the lies and cunning nature of our enemies, we often lead ourselves astray by internal dialogue.

To those that follow the way of Jesus Christ, we are not only repeatedly warned in scripture of the traps. We are given clear directions on how to avoid the painful, dread filling consequences of our misguided actions.

It is a blessing to know, that even in our failed attempts to handle things on our own, our Heavenly Father will work it out to our betterment. Yet even as the Scripture says in Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

So, for me, great comfort I find in that I’m not trapped continuously in deception, for it states in Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world (deceiving and being deceived) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (coming to, learning from, fully knowing God). Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will. Jesus rescues the children of His Father. Let all others call their father for rescue, in his language.