Do you ever see the tv commercials that advertise a cleaning product that literally seems like it could do anything? There’s this disastrous burned on, grime filled, grease stained mound on the stovetop and with one spray, it’s gone! All they do is spray and wipe straight through. It’s that easy! Is it really? Probably not. We go out and buy it anyway with the hopes that it will make all of our cleaning dreams come true. Advertising is a form of distortion. They take what really is and exaggerate it to make it look a lot better. We, as consumers, most likely will buy into it. There’s so many situations in life that are distorted. We’re so used to them, we sometimes become numb to it. 

“The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬) This is absolutely the worst case of distortion in human history. This is where it all began. “Did God really say?” is at the core of every bad decision that’s ever been made. We know the speed limit is 45 mph but everyone else is passing us. We have to “blend” with traffic. It’s okay to break the law as long as it’s for safety reasons. Right? “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Did God really mean to follow these laws if we didn’t get a vote in the matter? Yes, He did. Governing officials put the law in place. We are to obey. Pure and simple. The enemy comes to the garden of our hearts and persuades us that WE not He (Jesus) knows better in this situation. This is where life gets distorted. We take Jesus off of the throne momentarily and place the crown of Kingship on our own heads. Immediately, “our kingdom” falls. We have no business trying to rule our worlds. We don’t even know if our next breath is coming. God IS God for a reason. He knows everything! He puts parameters in place for His children to be safe. Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬) We have a real enemy out there that wants to distort God’s Truth and sell it to us like a bad promo ad. Don’t buy into the lie!

You and I are only safe and at peace when God is in His rightful place. We are sheep. He is our Shepherd. We are to follow, not lead. We have to understand that we do not have what it takes to be The Leader in this life. That position was earned by One. He said, ”I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬) We cannot put that on our resume. Only Jesus knows and IS Truth. He’s warned us not to fall for the devil’s tactics. The only way we can truly know something is a lie and not good for us is to know the Truth. We need to read The Manual. The Bible is God’s Manual for running the life of a human being. It brings safety and security. If we’re not familiar with the truth in His Word, the enemy has an astounding chance of giving you the distorted version. This only brings heartache and disaster. 

The lives of people that Jesus loves have been devastated and destroyed by “questioning” His regulations. He wants us to have the free will to love Him and one another. That’s why we are not programmed robots. This free will that’s been given should not be taken lightly. God has His way and the devil wants to take us the opposite route. Don’t take the bait. Stay on the path with The Lord. He will get you safely home. Buying into the lie that you know more than He does is nothing but a plot from the enemy to mess you up. Stay in Truth and you will recognize distortion.

Today’s writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband Robby and cat Harold.