...............He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
The Devil is many things, but at the crux of his being, at the crux of his very character is untruth. Such care he takes to attack us in those areas of our lives where we struggle. Always there with the quick fix and quick answer, appealing to our fleshly desires, convincing us that it is ok as long as we are happy. I am here to tell you, not what I think, but what I know. The devil exists to kill steal and destroy and he has many people living in a state of confusion. God created us in His image and has given us an absolute moral law by which to conduct our lives. He gives us this law so that we will live eternally, as He intended. Every word in the Bible is true and the devil knows this fact better than anyone. Because he knows it is true, he has dedicated his time trying to convince us that it is a lie. He perverts everything that is Holy and convinces us that it is acceptable - and unfortunately we buy in to it, hook, line and sinker - and consequently choose to live in a state of sin.
Satan was an angel named Lucifer and was known for his beauty and splendor. He believed that he could exalt himself above God and was cast out of Heaven. God desired for Lucifer to repent, but instead Lucifer did not. God kicked Lucifer out of Heaven (Ezekiel 28:15-20) and Lucifer convinced several other angels to rebel and leave Heaven with him. Lucifer, now Satan continues to convince multitudes of people to turn away from God just as he did and turn to him in a life of sin and corruption of heart. Sadly, many follow.
Satan preys on our weaknesses. He establishes what will make you happy and then provides it - and you will embrace it because it addresses your desire and your longing and makes you happy. You indulge in the activity because Satan has convinced you that you are now complete. You are not complete. In fact, you are broken and more tragically, you are in broken relationship with the one who created you, God. Satan encourages us to re-write God’s law and precepts for our lives. He tells us if it feels good, do it. This is why we see so many people engaging in “open marriages” where it is acceptable in their minds to invite other men and women into their marriage bed as long as it is mutually agreed upon. This is why young women are wearing provocative clothing to school, begging to be noticed and accepted. This is why young women are engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners because they want to feel “loved”. This is why people betray confidences and set traps for people at the workplace so that they can get ahead. This is why young men seek to have sex with as many young women as possible due to some misguided belief that this somehow makes them a man. This is why the 105 pound young lady perceives herself to be too heavy and doesn’t like herself all from an outwardly and inwardly perspective. Satan would have you think that you are not good enough, thin enough, pretty enough, smart enough -and he will lead you into a downward spiral of self mutilation and ultimately death. God has laid out a model of behavior and mode of thinking for our lives, yet we allow satan to appeal to our base desires and need for instant gratification and we begin to operate outside of the will of God.
Recently a brilliant, loving, kind and caring young man took his own life. It broke my heart to think of the hopelessness he must have felt. So much hopelessness when the life changing, liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ is available. It broke my heart. He struggled with severe obesity and was extremely self conscious about that fact. Multiple weight loss surgeries proved to make him thinner, but not happier and so the weight returned. There seemed to be so much sadness in his life. Even when he spoke words of hope, sadness remained in the background and was evident to me in his eyes. There was an unsuccessful prior attempt of suicide years prior and I held out hope that his mindset would shift to that of a mind of Christ “Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus”. So much self hatred. So much self loathing which is a mindset that comes only from the devil. Satan convinced this young man that he was not worth anything and then proceeded to rob him of what should have been an abundant life, and then ultimately led him into a tragic end. Satan offers death. God offers life, not only here, but beyond the grave into eternity.
We are all victims of satan’s attacks in our mind. Remember that Jesus is greater than satan and if we would choose to resist the devil from the first moment that a thought contrary to the word of God enters our minds, then the Bible says he will flee. Satan is relentless in his pursuit, but we have the spirit of God living within us and He has already defeated satan. Choose God, His will and His way. It is a perfect prescription for your life. Listen to the voice of God and ignore the voice of satan. God is your creator, Jesus is your savior and satan is a liar.
Be Blessed......
