Wolves in sheep clothing have the same human needs as everyone else, but Jesus says, Beware! Have discernment.

Malachi 3:18

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

 “Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” Malachi 3:18

I experienced a period in my life where I recognized the basic needs of humans but failed to discern between the righteous and the wicked. I understood that everyone requires food, water, shelter, social acceptance, respect, and the freedom of expression. It was akin to the experience of the blind man who perceived men as trees when Jesus first touched his eyes, “Then [Jesus] came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” Mark 8:22-24

Trees, like humans, have universal needs such as oxygen, water, and nutrients, but they do not possess a spirit or soul as humans do. While trees are not designed to be filled with the Holy Spirit, humans are created by God to be vessels for the Holy Spirit.

While I recognized the universal needs of humanity, it did not help me in discerning the corruption within people’s spirits and souls. There are many wolves in sheep clothing, yet we all share the same human necessities. However, only discerning the content of the heart can prevent us from falling victim to the wolves. Satan prowls like a lion, searching for someone to devour, and humanism is the plate he feeds from. We must distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. I give thanks to God for His Son, Jesus Christ, who put His hands on my eyes a second time, “Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. ” Mark 8:25 Now I understand that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and we must acknowledge our need for Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Word of God, along with the Holy Spirit residing within us, grants us the discernment to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, and between those who serve God and those who do not, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

The love and peace promoted by the hippies of the 1960s vastly differ from the love and peace of God. The wisdom and discernment imparted by the word of God makes this clear. Hippie love centered around physical sex, whereas God’s love focuses on the Salvation of spirit and soul through Jesus Christ. Similarly, the peace sought by hippies was worldly peace, in contrast to the peace within our spirit and soul, also through Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11