You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it — John 8:44 (NKJV)

This past Sunday our family visited a sister church in another city where we were blessed to be able to worship with God’s people and listen to a sermon titled, Unforgiveness.

A Heart That Had Been Broken

Coincidentally (is there really such a thing in God’s will?) we also heard the testimony of a teen believer who shared how God moved mightily in her heart while she was at a recent youth retreat.  She recounted her feelings of worthlessness, recalling those times when she had no desire to live, even ‘tempting fate’ by walking out in the street, wanting to be killed.

Apparently, this young woman — who was pretty and articulate  — believed some terrible things about herself, lies which were being fed to her from the pit of hell. But, God showed Himself faithful, lovingly revealing sin in her life while giving her the opportunity to repent.

A Young Life Saved and Restored

Restored and filled with His Spirit, her story received the applause of all who were in attendance as we rejoiced and thanked God for his deliverance perhaps knowing that her story could possibly parallel our own experience or what our children sometimes experience. God’s mercy was evident — a life had been spared and transformed!

John 8:44, taken in context of the chapter, shows how Jesus had to ‘get real’ with the Pharisees by telling them that their witness was false. Cutting to the chase, Jesus called them children of the devil — who is the father of lies.

Satan, Your Enemy

I believe it is important for each person who has surrendered his or her life to Jesus Christ to remember exactly who wants to destroy them. Satan, an angel who was once called Lucifer (Ezekiel 28:15-17) was filled with sin, cast out of heaven and has been at war with God and his saints ever since.  He not only is a liar but a thief who tries to steal, kill and destroy while Jesus came to give us life and that more abundantly.

While the liar/thief has only your ill will in mind, God has a better idea:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope — Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB).

This last verse should be of immense comfort for those who are following Jesus Christ as well as those who want to escape their lives of sin: God has good things in mind for you, but you have to quit listening to the lies and walk in truth to apprehend all the goodness He has for you.

Satan knows that his time is short and he wants to rip people off. For the believer, we need to recall God’s promises and lay hold of every one of them so that we may walk in victory with the One who has overcome the world.

Photo Credit: Joël Dietlé

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