The Enemy's Deceit

READ: PSALM 119:105; ROMANS 8:33-39; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17; 1 PETER 5:8-9

As an old story goes, in the Old West, thieves trying to escape law enforcement would sometimes turn their horses’ shoes backwards. These “bank robber horseshoes” supposedly tricked investigators into assuming the criminals traveled on horseback in the opposite direction. With tracks from the horseshoes pointing one way—but the thieves traveling in the other—they hoped to evade capture. This deception allegedly sent officers of the law away from the robbers they tracked.

In my relationship with God, I notice Satan practices a similar kind of deceit. With his lies about who we are and who God is, Satan disguises untruth as truth and points us away from God.

When we trust in Christ, believing His death and resurrection provide forgiveness and eternal life, we become new creations. Our enemy, the devil, will remind us of past sins, accusing us and saying we’re not blameless in God’s sight. But in His Word, God says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17). In Jesus, we don’t carry the burden of guilt any longer.

The Bible assures us nothing can separate us from God’s love once we are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Yet our enemy wants to convince us that our mistakes and sins will leave God shaking His head at us in disgust. The enemy may highlight rejection we’ve experienced and nudge us to ask, “Who could ever love me?” Yet God’s Word reminds us we are His much-loved children (1 John 3:1). And Jesus always comes to seek and save us when we’re lost (Luke 19:10).

Scripture labels Satan as the “father of lies,” but Jesus is the Truth (John 8:44; 14:6). How will we know when our beliefs have followed the enemy’s deception down the wrong path? When our thinking doesn’t match up with what Scripture teaches about the character of God and about who we are in Christ. God’s Word directs us on the right path to keep us walking in truth, and the Holy Spirit lovingly guides us back to this truth again and again. • Allison Wilson Lee

• When have you been tempted to believe Satan’s lies about who you are or who God is? What past hurts or sin does the enemy remind you of as he attempts to derail you from the truth?

• Which Bible verses or passages can help you remember the truth? Who is a trusted Christian in your life who could help you find Scriptures like these? Remember, God has designed us to fight Satan’s lies in community, so we can always remind each other of what’s really true.

[Jesus said,] “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NIV)