The Ways of the Enemy: Counterfeit-The Truth and the Life
This is the third of four posts on The Ways of the Enemy. We have seen that he is an opportunist and a counterfeit. This week we will discover that he is truly a counterfeit to Jesus as Truth and Life. And next week we will talk about resisting the devil.
Have you noticed how naturally we lie? Little children learn quickly how to avoid getting in trouble. Bigger children perfect it. And you and I—we are usually more subtle. Yet how easily we fall prey to scams?
Jesus is the Truth
Remember what Jesus says about Himself in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life….”
So our natural tendency to lie is in contrast to the truth embodied by our Lord. That deceitful tendency makes us easy prey for our enemy. He whispers enticements to us—counterfeits that sound like truth. Life scams. A clever scam artist.
He did it from the beginning with Eve:
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman, misquoting God. (Genesis 3:4)
He did it with Jesus, offering him shortcuts to the realities He will have soon enough:
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting 40 days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”'"
“Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”'"
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’"
“Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”'"
“Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:1-11)
And he does it with us!
The truth about Satan: the devil is a liar!“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
The truth about Jesus:“. . . a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time . . .” (Titus 1:2)
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
Free from entangling lies.
Jesus is the Life
I’ll never forget my friend who told me she wanted to control her own life, that she would choose God’s way only if His way gave her the life she wanted. She sought a fun and comfortable lifestyle, and she was determined to marry the man she was in love with, though her family and friends had many concerns.
Scripture warns us: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26)
The truth about Satan:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…”(John 10:10)
His intention is that we not have life—eternal or abundant. He seeks to prevent everyone from receiving the life Jesus offers. And when he loses that battle with an individual, he switches gears to steal joy and destroy a growing relationship with Jesus.
The truth about Jesus:
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Abundant life. (John 10:10)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (1 John 5:11)
Thus we see once again what a clever counterfeiter the devil is—always seeking to deceive, defeat and destroy us. But we have the author of life living in us, guiding us to the true truth and to abundant and eternal life.
What about you? How have the truth about Jesus set you free from the lies of the devil
C2017 Judy Douglass
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