The Bible tells us some stuff about Satan. We know he was a fallen angel and took a third of the angels (Rev 12:4) with him when he fell. We find he is called "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph 2:2) and "the god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4). Peter depicts him as a "roaring lion seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Revelation refers to him as "the great dragon" and "the ancient serpent" (Rev 12:9). We have a lot of names and descriptions, but there is one very specific one that stands out. Jesus referred to him as "the father of lies" (John 8:44). Very specific. Do you ever wonder why? Why not "the father of sexual sin" or "the father of murder" or some other sin? I'll tell you why I think it is the specific term. I believe it is the fundamental basis of sin.
Satan made his debut on the world stage with a lie. "You will not surely die" (Gen 3:1-5). It was, literally, the lie that shook the world. Every sin that has followed after that is the result of pursuing lies rather than truth. When Paul introduces the problem of sin, he specifies, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth" (Rom 1:18). The suppression of truth. Jeremiah says that the basic problem with the human heart is that it is deceitful and, therefore, desperately sick (Jer 17:9). Natural humans cannot grasp the gospel because Satan has blinded their minds (2 Cor 4:4). The lie is the fundamental tool Satan uses and the fundamental problem that causes us to sin. The truth is there is no other God, but we pursue other gods, beginning with ourselves. The truth is children need to honor their parents, but we don't really believe that. The truth is that humans are made in the image of God, but we're okay with murder. The truth is that adultery rips apart people, perpetrators and victims alike, but we can live with that. And so on. Paul goes on in the 1st chapter of Romans to tell of the result of suppressing the truth: we "exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Rom 1:25). That term, "a lie," is actually more literally "the lie," in that we served the creature -- primarily ourselves. And the lie became our operating template, which is why "God gave them up to a debased mind" (Rom 1:28). Natural Man does not operate on the basis of the truth. Natural Man is insane. I've often said that sin rots the brain, but the more accurate statement is that discarding the truth rots the brain, and sin results.
Herein, then, is the real problem. Jesus said that truth had a name. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Jesus prayed, "Your word is truth" (John 17:17). Any opposition to or defection from the truth, then, is opposition to and defection from Christ. Our world embraces that opposition on a daily basis. "Right and wrong are relative." "You are who you think you are." "Truth is what you make it." "I am the ultimate arbitrator of what is and isn't true." And each embrace of the lie -- from the father of lies -- is a step into more depravity. And we're so enamored with this flight from truth that we can't even see it. Why is the Word of God so important? Because "Your word is truth" and "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim 3:16-17). In a fallen world our best practical source of truth is God's Word. As such, the father of lies will do all he can to repress it. Don't let him.
3 comments:
Because we are so gullible to the lies of our hearts, we need something outside our hearts to redirect us to the truth.
I had read (or heard) somewhere a while back that lying (or deception) factors in one way or another in every sin we commit--whether in the inception, commission, or cover-up; when I think that premise through, it certainly rings true. It is a sad reality that we humans are so easily and pervasively duped by Satan and his lies. As you point out, we certainly cannot follow the wisdom of this world that tells us to “just follow your heart” or “look within yourself for the answer” or “find your own truth” or other such advice; trusting in the inclinations of our hearts or minds for direction will surely lead us astray. Thank God for His truth--the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, which helps us see Satan’s lying ways for what they are and sets us free from their power.
The question, of course, is what makes us think we're right? I mean, if Satan rules and mankind is deceived, why would we think we aren't? The beauty of that, of course, is that we aren't relying on our own truth-finding. We get ours from God's Word. That's a relief.
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