Pulling the Wool Over Your Eyes
No one can deceive another unless that person allows themselves to be deceived. This is especially true when we consider the Bible’s warnings about false teachings and the importance of discernment.
In Jeremiah 14:14, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah: “Then the Lord said to me, 'The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.'”
This verse reveals how false prophets were leading God’s people astray, presenting lies as truth. These prophets claimed to speak on God's behalf, but their messages were born out of their own imagination, not divine revelation. While the false prophets were clearly in the wrong, the people still had a responsibility to discern the truth. They allowed themselves to be deceived, essentially letting these prophets "pull the wool over their eyes."
Today, we still see this happening. It’s easy to be impressed by someone’s charisma or speaking ability and think, “Wow, he’s such a good speaker; what he says must be true.” But just because someone is eloquent, or persuasive doesn’t mean they are speaking God’s truth. We are warned in the Bible not to fall for the outward appearance of a speaker, but to test the substance of what they say.
In 1 John 4:1, we are told: “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” A great speaker can draw a crowd and convince people with their words, but that doesn't make them a messenger of God. We must be careful to always test what we hear against Scripture, no matter how convincing the speaker might seem.
Ephesians 4:14 also warns us not to be "tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine." This speaks to the danger of being influenced by persuasive people or new ideas without truly understanding them. Spiritual maturity and a solid foundation in God’s Word help us avoid being easily swayed by the latest speaker or trend.
Ultimately, the responsibility lies with us. God doesn’t want us to be deceived, and He has provided us with His Word, the Holy Spirit, and wisdom to discern truth from falsehood. We must stay vigilant, seek wisdom, and make sure we are not allowing anyone to pull the wool over our eyes simply because they are a good speaker.
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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.”
I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.
If you have any comments, questions, or testimonies to share, I would love to hear from you! Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com