Lies The Devil Tells

Jarrod Jacobs 

            Satan has many lies that he tells people (Jn. 8:44). “It does not bother my conscience” is a lie used to justify sins. Put another way, “Let your conscience be your guide” is the advice given to many when faced with a questionable situation. While this can be good advice, remember our conscience can be trained not to bother us when we sin. The Bible tells us that our conscience can be “seared” (I Tim. 4:1-2) or “defiled” (Titus 1:15-16). Would a “defiled” conscience be a very good guide?

            Before he became a Christian, Paul was with those who stoned Stephen and consented to his death (Acts 7:58, 8:1). Paul found Christians and put them in prison for being Christians (Acts 8:3). Acts 9:1-2 reveals that his trip to Damascus was to obtain more authority to persecute the Christians. He declared that he wasted the church and was more zealous than his fathers in doing so (Gal. 1:13-14). Then, as Paul looked back on his life, he said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1). Did Paul’s conscience bother him as he consented to the death of Stephen, or as he took Christians and tried to get them to blaspheme the Savior (Acts 26:11)? No! Friends, our conscience cannot be the standard for judging right from wrong in every situation.

            Friend, when we sin, we will be held accountable for sin regardless of whether or not it bothered our conscience! Let us follow God’s word as our only standard of authority. When we justify sin by our conscience, we are falling for one of the Devil’s lies!

Lies The Devil Tells

Jarrod Jacobs 

            Satan has many lies that he tells people (I Pet. 5:8). Unfortunately, many have listened to his lies to justify sin and error. Let us study another lie Satan tells us.

            Some justify themselves by falling for the lie that says, “There are others doing worse.” How many times have we heard this? Perhaps our children have said this to excuse their behavior. Did you accept it from them? Would we accept this excuse in any other area of life? Why then would we expect God to accept this excuse? While we may categorize sin, God does not. He says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:20). He says that our sin (all sin) will separate us from Him (Isa. 59:1-2)! Remember King Omri (I Kings 16:23-26)? The Bible records that he was the most sinful king up to that time in the history of Israel. Since this was true, did Omri’s sins justify past kings who were “not as evil” as Omri? Of course, not! Saying we are “not as bad” as someone else is not a wise comparison (II Cor. 10:12).

            Our standard today is the word of God. We must speak by the word of God (I Pet. 4:11). It will make us complete (II Tim. 3:16-17), allow us to grow (Heb. 5:12-14), and one day will be our standard in the Judgment (Jn. 12:48). The Bible reveals that we will be judged based upon what we have done (Ecc. 12:13-14), not on what someone else has or has not done that makes us look better! Let us not fall for a lie that we would not accept from anyone else!

Lies The Devil Tells

Jarrod Jacobs 

            Satan has many lies that he tells people (I Pet. 5:8). Let us study two more lies Satan tells us.

            Satan lies by telling us that we “deserve” this or that. In the beginning, Satan deceived Eve by planting that “seed” of a lie (Gen. 3:4-5). A host of sins are committed today because people think they “deserve” this or that. In truth, we ought to be thankful that we do not get what we deserve!

            We “deserve” separation from God (Isa. 59:1-2), not His fellowship (II Jn. 9). We “deserve” God’s wrath (Rom. 3:23), not His mercy (Jn. 3:16). We “deserve” dying in our sins, not Jesus dying for our sins (Matt. 20:28). Let us never get so high-minded as to think that what we have received from God is what we “deserve”!

            Another lie says, “It is for a good cause.” No, the end does not justify the means! Sin is still sin no matter what the reason! One of Satan’s most potent lies is getting men to justify sin by looking for a possible “good side.” The Bible teaches that folks were punished when they committed sin for a supposed “good cause” (II Sam. 6:6-7).

            Paul told the Romans that some had “slanderously reported” that he had said, “let us do evil that good may come” (Rom. 3:8). The end does not justify the means! When God reveals His will, He expects it to be followed exactly. We cannot make sin righteous by saying that sin was “for a good cause.” We are not at liberty to devise our own plans. Friend, do not fall for Satan’s lies!

Lies The Devil Tells

Jarrod Jacobs 

            Satan has many lies that he tells people (I Pet. 5:8). Satan wants our souls, and will do anything, including lying to us, to lure us away from God. Let us consider some lies that the Devil tells us.

            “Nobody will ever know” is a lie of Satan for several reasons. First, when you sin, you know it! If others are involved (they usually are when they assure you “nobody will ever know”), then they are going to know, too! Finally, one more important than all others will know about the sin, God (Prov. 15:3; Ps. 139:7-14)! One day, we are going to be judged by God who sees all and will judge the “secret things” we have done (Ecc. 12:13-14; Rom. 2:16; II Cor. 5:10). He knows!

            Another lie folks believe is, “You can repent later.” Who among us is promised a “later”? The Bible says “now” is the day of salvation (II Cor. 6:2), and “Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:7-8, 15). The obituary page is filled with people who thought they had a “later” to make their lives right. We don’t have a “later”! Seeing that all we have is “now,” we need to become a Christian while we can. (Mk. 16:16). Ananias emphasized this when he asked Paul, “Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized...” (Acts 22:16). The only reason you have been blessed with this day is because God wants you to make your life right with him before it is too late (II Pet. 3:9)!

Lies The Devil Tells

Jarrod Jacobs 

            Satan is subtle. Peter says he goes about “as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (I Pet. 5:8). Satan wants our souls. In order to lure away precious souls from God, he will do anything, including lying to us! One thing that works in our favor is that Satan tells the same lies over and over again. Therefore, if we can figure out his lies, we can be prepared for the next time he lies to us. Let us consider a lie that the Devil tells us.

            Satan lies by saying, “One time won’t hurt.” How many times have we been caught by this lie? When people first engage in sin, it is generally justified by saying, “It is just this once.” How many times has “just this once” turned into two or three times, and ultimately a lifetime of practicing what we said we would do only “this one time”?

            If any are so foolish as to think that “one time won’t hurt,” ask David if his “one time” of fornication with Bathsheba was worth the loss of his sons, the rebellion of his children, and running from his enemies (I Samuel 11-12). Ask Eve what she thinks of the lie, “one time won’t hurt” (Gen. 3)! Ask people today whose lives have been ruined because of a “one time” sin if it was worth it, and if that “one time” sin did not hurt!! Friends, this lie has been told over and over, and people continue to fall for it. Don’t you do it!