The truth of God’s word is far better than the lies we tell ourselves.
Ever since then, humanity has been hellbent on doing it – whatever it may be – by ourselves. We’ve convinced ourselves that creation knows better than the Creator. Emotions drive our understanding. We are no longer adhering to the truth of the gospel; we are serving a gospel of our own making, forced to be our own savior, a task at which we are failing miserably. All because we believe the lies our enemy professes.
The result?
Fear. Hopelessness. Pain.
Kind of depressing, right? Don’t worry – it gets better. Actually, it gets worse. But then it gets better. Hang in there with me… God will work this out for us.
Now, pain is a great motivator towards understanding. When you experience pain in your body, you seek the help of a physician who can locate the source and treat the cause of your pain (hopefully). But what happens when we experience pain in our hearts?
I’ve found that we tend to seek understanding here even more than we do in instances of physical pain. And unfortunately, this kind of pain is even more difficult to comprehend.
When we don’t adhere to the truth of the gospel, we serve a gospel of our own understanding, thereby forcing us to be our own savior in every circumstance.
How’s that working out?
Recently, a beloved former colleague of mine passed away unexpectedly. He was a music educator and clinician with over twenty years of positive impact on literally tens of thousands of lives. It is a tough loss for many to process, and as typically happens in times like this, everyone is doing their best to make sense of it.
As you can probably imagine, there have been so many social media posts meant to honor this man’s memory, as well as serve as a means to process grief. I understand the need for that, and I would never want to take the opportunity away from someone.
However, I can’t help but be grieved further at the fact that so many resort to falsehoods as a means of comfort.
I’ve seen post after post about how heaven needed another angel. Or statements about how this person is now a guardian angel watching over us (a gross misinterpretation of Hebrews 12:1-2).
As much as we may want to believe these kinds of statements… as much as they may serve to comfort our grieving hearts or placate our need for all of it to make sense… This is simply not true.
Why do we insist on doing for ourselves what was already made available to us through a relationship with Jesus Christ?
My fear is that this is one example of a myriad of ways we comfort ourselves with lies instead of running to the God who is Himself the source of all comfort. Why do we insist on doing for ourselves what was already made available to us through a relationship with Jesus Christ?
No one becomes an angel when they die. Humans are humans, angels are angels. Both created beings, both with the capacity to sin. But only one of the two was created in the image of God. Only one of the two can be redeemed by God. That’s our story – a redemption story – not the angels’ stories.
I don’t believe this is a lie with malicious intent. At least, not a conscious malicious intent. Satan, a fallen angel, is described as the father of all lies (John 8:44) with intent to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). So I can only assume that any lie – however well-intended – bears within it an opportunity to destroy something that God created.
It might seem like an innocent statement to those who so desperately long for comfort after a devastating loss. I’m not trying to strip away comfort – I’m trying to expose the tactics of the enemy. This misguided attempt to understand a senseless tragedy is actually a dangerous manipulation of Truth at a time when we are most vulnerable.
Satan is an opportunist, and we are most vulnerable when we are in pain.
If I were your enemy, that’s the exact time I’d choose to deceive you.
Satan is an opportunist who displays the direct opposite of God’s character. The Bible describes the serpent in the garden as “crafty”…capable of anything. We absolutely must be aware of the enemy we are fighting.
Where God is good, Satan is pure evil.
Where God is kind, Satan is cruel.
Where God is love, Satan is hatred.
Where God is joy, Satan is despair.
Where God is peace, Satan is turmoil.
Where God is patient, Satan is anxious.
Where God is gentle, Satan is brutal.
Where God is faithful, Satan is disloyal.
And where God offers truth, Satan deceives.
Satan is an opportunist, and we are most vulnerable when we are in pain. If I were your enemy, that’s the exact time I’d choose to deceive you about God’s kingdom. Once I get you to believe me with a seemingly inconsequential, pain-reliever of a lie, you’ll be more likely to believe me again.
And every time you do, I’d add a little less truth to my lies until, like an addict who doesn’t realize they’re becoming addicted, you’re completely convinced that I’m telling the truth. The temporary relief you feel from the lies I whisper will eventually convince you that I am the only thing you can trust and God is out to get you.
The comfort Satan offers is dangerous. The comfort God offers is safe.
Strong true words.
Thank you so much 🤍
I love how you put it our there for us-differences between God and Satan.
” Where God is good, Satan is pure evil.
Where God is kind, Satan is cruel.
Where God is love, Satan is hatred.
Where God is joy, Satan is despair.
Where God is peace, Satan is turmoil.
Where God is patient, Satan is anxious.
Where God is gentle, Satan is brutal.
Where God is faithful, Satan is disloyal.
And where God offers truth, Satan deceives.”
Make it plain! We have to know the enemy we’re dealing with. I’m so thankful this spoke to you! Blessings over your life, my friend 🤍