The other day, the windshield wiper fluid indicator on my Toyota RAV4 lit up. The reservoir was nearly empty.

Now, I may not know a whole lot about cars, and I might not wash and vacuum mine as often as I should. But one thing I’m particular about is fluid levels. Maybe it’s because my RAV is approaching the end of its useful life and burns oil like a wildfire, but I am especially attentive to my fluid levels. So, when I got home, I immediately pulled into the garage, popped the hood, and uncapped the reservoir to refill the tank.

Since I’m meticulous about topping off fluids, I try to always have ample supplies on hand—brake fluid, oil, coolant, and wiper fluid. I quickly scanned the garage for that familiar milk jug-style gallon container with the bright blue fluid. Ah, there it is, in the corner.  I don’t remember putting it there. Oh well… I grabbed it, snapped off the cap, and started pouring it into the reservoir.

Glug, glug, glug. That’s weird. The fluid was thick and viscous, almost like syrup. Can this stuff go bad? I stopped and examined the bottle, and as my gaze caught the label, my heart sank. “Tide Laundry Detergent 2x Concentrate,” it read.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Since when do they put laundry detergent in containers like that? Turns out my bargain-hunting wife recently made a trip to BB’s Scratch & Dent Warehouse. For those of you not in Lancaster County, BB’s is kind of like Ollie’s but for food and household supplies. They buy up pallets of discontinued, slightly damaged, or nearly expired items and sell them at reduced prices. Hence, the unfamiliar packaging. The laundry soap was meant for commercial use. And Pam, with her hands full of other items, had apparently left the jug of detergent in the garage.

What a mess. I had just poured the equivalent of seven loads of laundry detergent into my car. I grabbed our garden watering can, filled it, and started desperately pouring fresh water into the reservoir. The tank quickly filled and began to foam over like a shaken soda bottle. Bubbles poured out over the engine as the pleasant smell of freshly laundered clothes filled the air.

After flushing the system for a few minutes, I closed the hood and pressed the windshield wiper switch. The pump gurgled for a couple of seconds and globs of undiluted liquid detergent shot onto my windshield, followed by a solid stream of very sudsy water. Well, at least my windshield will be clean, right? Actually, no. It was a smeary mess.

I think I’ve got most of it out. But something’s still wrong. The windshield wiper fluid indicator light is still on, even though the reservoir is full and occasionally the pump clogs and little blue blobs ooze out of the sprayer tips. It’s going to be a while before things get back to normal.

My carelessness got me thinking about a huge way that Satan attacks us—through deception. Satan is a master at deception, disguising temptations in a way that seems appealing, harmless, and without consequences. But once we let it in, it damages, distracts, or derails us from God’s design and purposes.

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

As followers of Jesus, we must stay alert and discerning to avoid falling into Satan’s traps because once deception takes root in our lives, it can have a damaging effect and be hard to remove. Just like the laundry detergent clogged my windshield washer system, false beliefs and sinful behaviors can clog our spiritual lives. The initial appeal fades, leaving behind consequences that are difficult to clean up.

Consider how deceptive appearances are in our culture today. Advertisements and social media promise happiness by presenting an idealized version of life that can lead to a distorted sense of reality. It creates unrealistic expectations and fosters a spirit of comparison and discontent.

Pornography and lust promise immediate gratification but ultimately lead to addiction, broken relationships, and a distorted view of intimacy. It damages relationships and dilutes our spiritual focus by distancing us from God’s design for purity and love.

Materialism and consumerism entice us with the allure of happiness and status through possessions, yet it results in dissatisfaction, debt, and a never-ending cycle of wanting more. It shifts our focus from our eternal treasures in Christ to fleeting earthly gains.

And secularism undermines our faith, tempting us to disregard God’s word and conform to a world that rejects God’s sovereignty and wisdom.

So, a little advice from a friend.  Don’t pour laundry detergent into your car’s fluid reservoir and don’t let Satan fill your life with things that clog and hinder your spiritual walk.  When deception takes root in our hearts, it makes a mess that’s hard to clean up.

1 John 4:1, which says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”