Red Bottoms?

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a lover of nice heels. When coming up with the name of this blog, the reaction I got was “I get it…that’s so you”. For me, a lady having a pair of red bottoms in the closet is akin to having a PhD in the field of ‘Shoeology’ and the statement it makes is “Yes, I have arrived” (without actually saying it).  It’s amazing how we females can communicate our approval without saying a word, and I have been on the doting end of the equation when it comes to “red bottoms”. Consequently, owning a pair of red bottoms has remained a permanent fixture on my wish list. In my daydreams I imagine my very rich great paternal grandfather shows up and bestows me a pair. Laugh if you may, but my current reality does not permit me acquiring a pair of shoes that could cost anywhere from $500 to $6,000 (US). So I’ll just dream on…..

Then it happened in late November while going through the newsfeed on my social media account. I froze. I saw an ad that immediately captivated my attention. Christian Louboutin was having a 90% off sale on shoes. Shoes that were usually going for $675 were now going for a fraction of that price. I was mesmerized. Red. Bottom. Shoes. I blurted it out as a staccato phrase. My interest was more than piqued, it was arrested.

My curiosity once indulged became “I just have to have one.” The excitement had me giggling like a school girl but before whipping out the credit card my conscience was awakened. There was only one hurdle in my way, my husband. We had agreed that any frivolous spending over $100 would call for the approval of the other spouse. A phone call wouldn’t do, he needed to enjoy a good home cooked meal, have a casual conversation, and then I’d tell him. The evening went as planned and after a very brief discussion  while he was very much distracted, I spilled it. I assumed he gave his consent when he did not oppose but simply gave an “I don’t think my permission even matters” response, then immediately went online and made the purchase. All blinders were on at the time.  It felt so good while I was making the purchase, it was an unnatural high; but,  as soon as I completed my purchase it suddenly hit me, “are these authentic brands?” It was my gut instinct kicking in.

It did not take very long to figure out that the shoes were counterfeits “How could they?” I made several attempts to have my order cancelled so that I could recoup the funds that I had spent, all without success. Foolish was the feeling I felt for not doing a better job at researching that this “counterfeit” website was not a genuine distributer of the brand. I felt like a number, just another victim of their deception and it hurt. I was really disappointed that I fell for it.  I knew better; nevertheless, I was tricked.

As I reflect on that experience, I thought about the encounter between Eve and the serpent. God told Eve what His expectations were. He told her that if she ate from a certain tree, she would die. The Devil simply packaged the lie and sold it to Eve and she bought it. I’ve come to realize that deception is one of the strongest tools that the enemy uses to defeat us in the Christian warfare. He sold her the benefits of her disobedience without disclosing the consequences or revealing the fine prints. He left out “thus saith the Lord” and that’s the part that mattered most.

How many times have we been made victims? The enemy tells us that we can embezzle company resources and not get caught; he shows us the nice car, the expensive clothing and all the good stuff; however, he doesn’t present the whole picture. He does not show us the time spent in jail along with the stress and embarrassment that it causes family. He shows us how we should ditch our lifeless marriage and find passion in a steamy affair; but, he does not show the widespread devastation it unleashes in every aspect of our lives. He shows us the satisfaction while concealing the deception.

Deception by the enemy is real. Instant gratification will always appear to be more alluring and attractive. But how do we win the victory over deception? How do we obtain the tools that will help us detect truth from error? We have to spend time learning about God’s Word. We have to sit at Jesus feet like Mary and learn of Him.

In Mark 13:21 Jesus cautions His disciples to beware of the pervasiveness of deception in the time of the end. Discerning error means that one must know truth. You must have a clear understanding of “thus saith the Lord.” One of the issues with my experience is that I was ignorant of the authentic distributors of Christian Louboutin. I did not spend adequate time researching the brand; hence, I failed in dustinguishing the counterfeit. Consequently, I am now on the email list of the authentic Christian Louboutin website, I’m keeping up to date.  Similarly, in John 15:5 Jesus also says of himself “I am the vine, and you are the branches.” It is not enough to know, we must be kept up to date, day by day abiding in his presence, studying the word and pleading for the Holy Spirit.

A relationship with God involves time. Set apart time to read His word to understand His nature, His standards, and His rules. It’s not a once and for all relationship and it calls for a daily sacrifice. Each day He gives us manna, the manna of discernment to uncover the deception of what we are being sold by the devil. Has God had an opportunity to download a message in your mailbox today?