Day 13: The Satan

No person has lied to you more than Satan has. Take a long pause and think about that for a few minutes…perhaps longer. As if there were any possibility that these lies are innocent, Peter makes the intent clear by linking Satan's lying nature with his unceasing thirst for death.

1 Pet 5:8: Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. (NET)

Satan's lies are well crafted and targeted. To those with only partial knowledge of our Lord, he accuses that “God is not loving,” “God is not fully truthful,” “God is not righteous,” “God is not gracious.” These are the lies that led Adam and Eve toward their first sin. But, I don't think they were the first lies Satan told…and, he certainly has many more in his repertoire.

To those who have yet to bow their knee to Christ, Satan suggests “God isn't real,” (and “neither am I”). At every turn he insists that no higher power will ever hold man accountable after death. He is also quick to suggest “if you can't fully reason out the theological details of a matter, then it can't possibly be true.” To those who have invested heavily in worldly knowledge, he scoffs “Christian faith requires intellectual suicide and the compete loss of reason!”

Satan unpacks new lies when a person seeks after God:

• Don't worry, all people everywhere are God's children already.

• The Bible's teachings are outdated, insufficient, or have been manipulated and lost through the years.

• All belief systems are equally valid.

As the Holy Spirit convicts more, Satan reaches deeper:

• You'll need to do a lot of good to make up for all your bad.

• You'll have to work even harder to earn God's love.

• You're just one of those who are too far gone for forgiveness.

• You can always make that decision later.

• Your happiness now is of utmost importance.

When a person places their faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, you can expect a brand new crop of lies:

• You're safe now, sit back, relax, and wait for eternity.

• You need to kick those old habits and keep a clean record before you can be useful.

• Don't worry, dabbling in sin here and there never hurt anyone.

• Just focus on your immediate circles, God will send someone else to reach the world.

Even the mature believer is targeted by the father of lies:

• The Church doesn't need you, you're too old to have an impact.

• It's only important if I can see immediate fruit from it.

• I'm too busy doing the Lord's work to take a Sabbath rest or patiently wait on Him.

What are some of the lies that you once believed, but now see through?

Who do you have in your life to help shed light on lies you blissfully believe and live by today?

Jesus said of Satan,

John 8:44 “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature because he is a liar and the father of lies.” (NET)

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