THE DEVIL'S THREE GREATEST LIES
He is a liar, and the father of lies. John 8:44
Deception. It is the devil’s specialty. The Bible says, “He deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:19). And he deceives the whole world through lies. Has he deceived you?
I talk to people nearly every day who have been deceived by the devil into thinking that (1) God is not good, (2) God does not really love them, and (3) God cannot really be trusted. Those are perhaps Satan’s three greatest lies … and so many people, Christians included, subconsciously believe them, to one degree or another. Why is that?
BAD CIRCUMSTANCES
All of us have a strong tendency to evaluate God’s goodness, love, and plan for our lives based on current circumstances. If things are going well for us, we tend to see God in a positive, biblical light. But, if things suddenly go south (we encounter job loss, health loss, marriage and family trouble), we start to question the goodness of God and the promises in His Word.
Circumstances are a faulty means for evaluating God and His character. Job’s wife fell into that trap. As she viewed all of the tragedy that had befallen her and Job, she surmised that God wasn’t good, He didn’t love them, and He was not worthy of their trust. Her circumstance-driven response to Job was “curse God and die” (Job 2:9).
Sadly, many follow her advice as they cannot seem to reconcile their trials and hardships on one hand with a good and loving God on the other. The devil steps in at that moment to say, “The reason this equation doesn’t compute in your mind is because God is not good, loving and kind. The pain of your trials is real and undeniable, but the goodness of God is obviously a cruel, sadistic joke. Better to just curse God and die.”
The truth of the matter is this: God is good, regardless of bad circumstances. God loves you and me, regardless of the storms that may pour into our lives. God has a good plan for us, regardless of what it might look like right now.
MAKING A CAKE
While I am not a chef by any stretch of the imagination, I have, on occasion, helped my wife, Debbie, make a cake. Cake is something most of us LOVE because it tastes great. But a cake doesn’t taste too good if you start eating it before it is ready. Flour and raw eggs and vanilla extract and baking powder and canola oil aren’t the least bit tasty as they sit in the mixing bowl.
Perhaps you have been guilty of tasting the bitter ingredients of your life as they sit unstirred in the mixing bowl. Perhaps you have secretly determined that the Master Chef, Jesus Christ, must not be much of a Master because the dish He is preparing – your life – tastes terrible. Hmmm.
WAIT ON THE LORD
God knows what He is doing. Put down your spoon and quit judging the product before it is finished. Trust God and His Word. The cross of Jesus Christ is God’s permanent reminder to you and me that he is good, He loves us, and He can be trusted (Romans 8:32). And what’s more … even when rotten things get thrown in the mixing bowl, He works them together for good by His amazing grace (Romans 8:28).
The devil’s lies or God’s truth: which one will you choose to believe today?
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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