Actually, he’s not very original – he’s been using the same lie ever since the beginning of what we call time: “Yea, hath God said…” (Gen 3:1) That statement comes in all different shapes and sizes but always boils down to the same lie: Did God really say that?
Does the human race really have to worry about what Satan says? Well, considering that he’s the most powerful force that we will ever encounter, except for Almighty God, I would say, “Yes!”
So, what lie does he whisper into your ear? The most deadly lies are the ones that, if we believe them, will condemn our souls to hell for all eternity. They look something like this:
- There is no God. This one doesn’t really work for the average thinking person. Most generally, people have no trouble accepting that there is a greater power out there than the human mind.
- A loving God wouldn’t sent someone to hell. Now this lie catches more people. Actually, God does not send anyone to hell. You or I choose to go there by rejecting the truth – the truth that cost God the Father his Son’s life!
- That’s just a Baptist belief. I swallowed this one for a while … until I read the Bible! It’s all in there folks: salvation, hell, born-again, sinner… the list is endless and they’re all Bible terms.
- I believe my ‘good’ will outweigh my ‘bad.’ Let’s think about this one for a moment. If I could get to heaven by being good enough, then why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Can you imagine the insult such a statement is to the Father, who SACRIFICED His ONLY Son to pay man’s penalty for sin, for a human being to say, “No thanks, I’m working my way to heaven?”
I’ve come to realize that the biggest reason that people refuse to listen to the Gospel is this: if they accept what someone is telling them: that they are a sinner (which most thinking people have no problem accepting), that sin keeps us out of God’s perfect heaven, and that only by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice will I get to heaven; it will require a decision. It is much easier to ignore the truth than to deal with it!
I said earlier that the greatest force which we will encounter in this life other than Almighty God is Satan – there is one other powerful force: our own will. It is the only thing more powerful than the Creator of the Universe. We have the free will to choose salvation or reject it. Wow! God gave man that free will, and then Satan sowed pride into the heart of man! Our stubborn pride couples with our free will to make a deadly combination which keeps more people out of heaven than any lie Satan could ever fabricate.
Would you submit to God? Would you pray to the God of the Universe and accept His free gift of salvation; or will you believe another of Satan’s lies: I’m alright. A simple prayer given with a broken and contrite heart is the greatest action we could ever choose to make:
Dear Father,
I know I’m a sinner. I know that I deserve hell for the punishment of my sins. Please, take away my sins; come into my heart and save me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9.10.13
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Beyond Common Sense 