The Fool’s Mistress: The Lie I Kept Believing
From Empty Pursuit to Eternal Fulfillment in Christ
I remember the first time I heard the song What a Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers. It explores themes of self-deception, unrequited love, and denial. In many ways, I can relate.
I realized something painful and true—I had a mistress I could not seem to let go of. Her name was the world.
She was beautiful to me at first. She captivated my attention, led me down many paths, and promised joy in countless forms. Some of those paths felt good for a moment, others led me into quiet destruction, but all of them carried the same whisper: this will satisfy you.
But it never did.
As I’ve walked through life, I’ve begun to see her more clearly. What once felt exciting now fades quickly. What once promised fulfillment now feels empty. The things I once clung to—possessions, achievements, relationships, even my own sense of identity—now feel like weight in my hands, slowly rusting as I carry them.
Even my own strength has changed. What once felt like running with the wind now feels like struggling just to keep pace. And what I once believed mattered most now feels like memories stored away in a room I rarely enter.
The world changed in my eyes. The shine faded. The pursuit became more satisfying than the possession. And I came to realize something I didn’t want to admit:
She had deceived me.
The world never delivered what she promised. She led me down roads that ended in emptiness, distraction, and wasted time. And now I stand at the edge looking back, realizing there is nothing she can truly give me.
I was deceived. I was played for a fool. And the hardest part is that I believed her with all my heart.
But then I found a real love.
His name is Jesus.
His promises are true. He does not leave me empty or regretful. He does not abandon me when I fail or lose my way. He remains faithful when everything else fades.
And through Him, I see everything differently.
The world is not brighter because it changed—but because I did. The clouds now carry wonder. The sun feels alive. The trees seem to move with joy. The grass feels greener, the water clearer, and even the air itself feels like life.
This is the love I was searching for all along. Everything I need. Everything I truly want.
And yet, even now, the world still calls my name.
And too often, like a fool, I still turn back.
Why do I return? Why do I act as though I have not found something greater? Why do I believe the same lie again?
I know the answer.
My flesh.
It longs for what is immediate. It prefers pleasure over joy, impulse over surrender, comfort over truth. It is impatient, self-centered, and easily satisfied by what will not last. It chooses the temporary high over eternal life. It is the world's perfect companion, her perfect mate. The fool—he loves his mistress, the world.
So I must learn to put the flesh to death, so that the life of Christ can fully live in me.
So that I can walk in truth with my King, my Savior, my Lord—Jesus Christ.
