A pastor friend of mine Cory Shumate shared a message from the book of John this week and there where some life changing thoughts that I was prompted to share with you.
In the message he shared, the point was made that the devil uses two extreme lies to keep us from God. If only we knew these for what they where, lies, then we could recognize the TRUTH of God’s plan in our lives.
The devil has been a deceiver from the beginning. He’s like that abuser that whispers in your ear to keep you from being all God meant you to be.
So what are these lies?
Lie #1: You Don’t Need God
Here is the first lie. The devil try’s to keep you away from God by simply deceiving you about your life.
Sin separates us from God and keeps us from His plan for our life.
How many times have you said “It’s not that bad” as you look to justify the sin in your life. I know I’ve struggled with this myself. It’s easy to think, “well my sin isn’t as bad as this OTHER PERSON, so won’t that mean I’m good enough for heaven on my own?”
It does not matter if your sin was a little white lie or if you murdered a child, sin is sin, and even though different sin may have different consequences on earth, all sin separates us from God.
Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
This means that sin separates us from God and all of us, no matter what, are in need of a savior.
Lie #2: You Are Too Bad To Be Saved
The devil’s second lie takes the entire conversation to the other extreme. This is a place of guilt and self-hate. It’s the place where the devil says “Why would anyone love you? Why would they forgive you? For what you’ve done???? You’re a bad person”
This is a dark and disempowering place where the devil wants to keep us. By keeping our mind in this place, he attempts to deceive us of the truth. In this place we miss the truth that is right in front of us because we don’t see it when we believe this lie.
The Truth
1) God always loved YOU
– Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”
2) He sent his son to pay the penalty for YOUR sin
– John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he sent his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”
3) He has a plan and vision for YOUR life
– Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The truth is that God loved you even before you where born, and he loved you so much, that he wanted to be with you, forever in heaven. You where separated from God because your sin, and God looked and that and gave his most precious gift, his only son, as payment for you to be with Him in heaven. He is now calling out to you, awakening you to the TRUTH of the offer of His love, it’s up to you to accept it.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
If you have not already accepted Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, then I pray that this message would be that moment for you. Pray this prayer from your heart and let God come in to transform your life:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name.
Amen.