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"Lies The Devil Tells"

Jarrod Jacobs

Satan is subtle. He is sneaky and sly. Peter says he goes about "as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (I Pet. 5:8). Christ said he is the father of lies (Jn. 8:44). Satan wants your soul and mine. In order to take away precious souls from God, he will do anything -- INCLUDING LIE TO US!! One thing that works in our favor is that Satan tells the same lies over and over again. Therefore, if we can figure out some of his lies, we can be prepared for the next time he lies to us. Let us consider some lies that the Devil tells us.

"One Time Won't Hurt!"

How many times have we been caught by this lie? Have we used this lie to justify our first drink, our first smoke (cigarettes, or marijuana), or drugs, etc.? Of course, when people first engage in those sins, it is always justified by saying, "It is just this once." How many times has "just this once" turned into 2 or 3 times, and ultimately a lifetime of practicing what we said we would do only "one time"?

If any are so foolish as to think that "one time won't hurt!" just ask David if his "one time" of fornication with Bathsheba was worth the loss of his sons, the rebellion of his children, and running from his enemies (I Samuel 11 to the end of his life). Ask Eve what she thinks of the lie, "one time won't hurt!" (Gen. 3). Ask people today whose lives have been ruined because of a "one time" sin if it was worth it, and if that "one time" sin did not hurt!! Friends, this lie has been told over and over, and people continue to fall for it. Don't you do it!!

"Nobody Will Ever Know!"

This is a lie for several reasons. First of all, when you sin, at least one person knows -- you! Of course, if others are involved in a sin (they usually are when they assure you "no one else will know"), then they are going to know, too! Besides all this, one more important than all others will know about the sin, God!! "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:3; Ps. 139:7-14). Jesus told His disciples that when they pray, give alms, or fast, to do so in a private manner, so that "thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly" (Matt. 6:4, 6, 18). One day, we are going to be judged by God who sees all and will judge the "secret things" we have done (Ecc. 12:13-14; Rom. 2:16; II Cor. 5:10). He knows!

"You Can Repent Later."

Who is it among God's creation that is promised a "later"? The Bible says "now" is the day of salvation (II Cor. 6:2), and "Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts" (Heb. 3:7-8, 15). Jesus said, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? ... Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." (Jn. 4:35). Who is promised a "later"? This is another of Satan's lies.

We know that the obituary page is filled with people who thought they had a "later" to make their lives right. The truth is, we don't! Seeing that all we have is "now," we need to take advantage of our opportunities in this life and become a Christian while we can. (Mk. 16:16). Ananias emphasized this when he asked Paul, "why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized..." (Acts 22:16, NKJV). The only reason you have been blessed with this day is because God wants you to make your life right with him before it is too late (II Pet. 3:9)!!

"You Deserve It."

Many have turned their backs on God because of what they thought they "deserved"! Satan was able to deceive Eve because she thought she was not getting something from God that she "deserved" (Gen. 3:4-5). Adam soon followed. A host of sins are committed today because people think that they didn't get what they "deserved." The truth of the matter is we ought to be thankful that we do not get what we deserve!!!

What do we deserve? We deserve separation from God because of our sins (Isa. 59:1-2), not His fellowship (II Jn. 9). We deserve God's wrath (Rom. 3:23), not His mercy (Jn. 3:16). We deserve dying in our sins, not Jesus Christ dying for our sins (Matt. 20:28; II Cor. 5:21). Let us NEVER get so high-minded that we think that what we have received from God is what we deserve!

"It Is For A Good Cause."

How many times have we heard this lie? No, the end does not justify the means! Sin is still sin no matter what the reason! One of Satan's most potent lies is to get man to justify his sin by looking for a possible "good side." The Bible teaches that some were punished though they were doing things for a supposed "good cause."

God put Uzzah to death because he had placed his hand on the ark and steadied it when the ox had stumbled (II Sam. 6:6-7). Why was God's anger "kindled against Uzzah"? Because he was not authorized to touch the ark. "But," some may ask, "wasn't it a good thing for Uzzah to steady the ark?" Maybe, but he still was not authorized to touch the ark. In Paul's day, he told the Romans that some had "slanderously reported" that he had said, "let us do evil, that good may come" (Rom. 3:8). Paul never said that, and it is wrong for us to teach this blasphemous doctrine. The end does not justify the means! As you read and study the Bible, you find that so far as God is concerned, the "getting there" is as important as the "goal." In other words, when God lays out a pattern or plan, He expects it to be followed to the letter. Noah understood this (Gen. 6:22). God told the Israelites that when it came to building the Tabernacle, "See ... that thou make all things according to the pattern..." (Heb. 8:5; Ex. 25:40). We are not at liberty to devise our own plans, so long as the "goal" is accomplished!

Unfortunately, many have used reasoning like this to justify their sin and error. How many times have we heard people declare that what they were doing was a "good work" and therefore, God must be pleased and men ought to accept it? We need to learn and learn well that regardless of what might be accomplished, if God says it is a sin, we need to leave it alone!

"There Are Others Doing Worse!"

How many times have we heard this? Perhaps our children have said this to excuse their behavior. Did you accept it from them? Of course, not! Would we accept this excuse in any other walk of life? No! Then why would we expect God to accept this excuse? How foolish! While we may categorize sin, God does not do that. He says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:20). He says that our sin will separate us from Him regardless of the "size" of the sin, and regardless of whether or not others are doing worse (Isa. 59:1-2)! Remember King Omri? We read about him in I Kings 16:23-26. The Bible records that he was the most sinful king of all in the history of Israel. Did Omri's sins justify Jereboam and the other kings who were "not as evil" as Omri? Of course, not! Looking to others and seeing if they are worse than us is not a wise comparison (II Cor. 10:12).

Our standard today is the word of God. We must speak by the word of God (I Pet. 4:11). It will make us perfect (II Tim. 3:16-17), allow us to grow (I Pet. 2:2; Heb. 5:12-14), and one day it will be our standard in the Judgment (Jn. 12:48). The Bible reveals that we will be judged on our own merits (Ecc. 12:13-14), not on what someone else has or has not done that makes us look better! Let us not fall for a lie that we would not accept from anyone else!!

"It Does Not Bother My Conscience."

"Let your conscience be your guide" is the advice of many when faced with a questionable situation. While this can be good advice, it is not fool-proof. The conscience can be trained not to bother you when you sin. The Bible tells us that our conscience can be"seared" (I Tim. 4:1-2) or "defiled" (Tit. 1:15-16). What this means is that even though you were brought up knowing right from wrong, your conscience will no longer bother you when you sin. Does this sound familiar? Consider the "defiled" conscience. Would this type of conscience be a very good guide?

Before he became a Christian, Paul was with those who stoned Stephen and consented to his death (Acts 7:58, 8:1). Paul found Christians and put them in prison for being Christians (Acts 8:3). He went to Damascus to obtain more authority to persecute the Christians in Acts 9:1-2. He declared that he wasted the church and was more zealous than his fathers in doing so (Gal. 1:13-14). Then, as Paul looked back on his life, he said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day" (Acts 23:1). Did Paul's conscience bother him as he consented to the death of Stephen, or as he took men and women and tried to get them to blaspheme the name of the Savior (Acts 26:11)? No!! Therefore, we can see that our conscience cannot be the standard for judging right from wrong in every situation.

Please understand, that when we sin, we will be held accountable regardless of whether or not it bothered our conscience! Let us only follow God's word as our standard of authority. When we justify ourselves by our conscience, we are falling for one of the Devil's lies!

"It Is Acceptable/Legal In Society."

This is a popular lie used by Satan. This lie allows us decide whether or not our actions are correct based upon what society accepts. Of course, we can see many things that society accepts that are unacceptable in the sight of God. For instance, homosexuality is accepted by many today, though the Bible says it is a sin (Rom. 1:26-27; I Cor. 1:9-11). Society allows a man and woman to divorce for any cause, but the Bible teaches that the only acceptable reason for a divorce is fornication on the part of the spouse (Matt. 5:32, 19:9). Fornication is portrayed on TV, and other places as acceptable (but only if you are truly "in love"), but God says that sexual relations are only acceptable in the marriage relationship (Heb. 13:4). Society also accepts such things as gambling (or lotteries), drinking alcohol, smoking, immodest dress, etc. Yet, God does not accept these things as "normal" or okay. Just because our society accepts things like this does not mean that God does! We must never base our decision to do right or wrong simply because it is "legal."

Doesn't it make sense that as society gets worse and worse, our laws will change, and things once illegal will become legal?? However, God's word will never change (Ps. 119:89)!!

In the Old Testament, people were told, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Ex. 23:2). When Solomon wrote, he said, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Prov. 4:14-15). In the New Testament, we are told to, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil" (I Thess. 5:21-22). Peter said, "abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (I Pet. 2:11). Jesus said that there are only two ways to go in this life -- the broad way that leads to destruction, or the strait and narrow way that leads to life (Matt. 7:13-14). He continues in the same chapter to tell us that only those who do the will of God will be acceptable to Him (Matt. 7:21-23). This obedience must come regardless of what society does or does not accept!! We must all make the choice to do what is right regardless of what the world accepts or legalizes (Josh. 24:15).

What Is The Truth?

The truth is that we have not outgrown the Bible, and we still have a lot to learn if we are going to stop being fooled by the same lies that have been told since the beginning of time!! The only way we will be able to keep from falling for the Devil's lies is to immerse ourselves in the Truth (Jn. 17:17; Ps. 119:2-3, 9, 11).

James said, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (Jas. 4:7). Let us be like Christ who refused the Devil and His lies on every occasion (Matt. 4:1-11; Lk. 4:1-13; I Pet. 2:21-22).

Conclusion

Satan is called the "father of lies" for a reason (Jn. 8:44). Over the years, the Devil's tactics have not changed. Have you ever thought about why Satan uses the same lies over and over again to tempt us? He does this because THEY ARE EFFECTIVE!!! However, we can make his tools of none effect if we will turn to God in loving faith and obedience and follow His word. What will you do? Will you continue to fall for the lies the Devil tells? Let us not fall prey to the lies of Satan!!

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