Fool Me Once!

But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15

"Fool me one, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."  We've all heard this saying before, yet we fall for it time and time again, don't we?  And when we fall for it the third, fourth, fifteenth time, we STILL don't take responsibility for not learning.  We are enticed by our own desires because what we desire "feels so right."  

Just because something "feels so right" does not make it right.  The Ancient Chinese General Sun Tzu is quoted as saying: "Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him."   

We are enticed by what? The opportunity to earn some extra money?  To get that bigger house?  To fudge on the rules because, after all, "everyone does it"?

Think about how we are enticed by advertisers with phrases like "But for only a few dollars more, you could have....." or "Why would you settle for the silver package when for just a little bit more (usually a couple of pints of blood or a limb) you can upgrade to the GOLD package."  Or you are looking at a home to purchase and get caught up in all the "high end" upgrades, when what you truly need (since you're working so much to make the money to pay for all these upgrades) is simply a place to put your clothes.

We are constantly being enticed, and with things that are appealing to us.  Let's face it, if sin wasn't fun...we would have no trouble resisting.  This is why I am not enticed by the offerings of broccoli, or onions, or big bags of stable muck. These things are not attractive to me and I have no trouble saying "No thanks, I'm good without them."

I'm also not advocating a life of living in a cave, eating crawly critters, and having disregarding personal hygiene.  We must learn that not everything the glitters is gold and we must learn to be strong enough to resist the temptation by thinking things through.