The most ruthless form of slavery is deception. Satan, who wants to enslave and destroy you, is the master of deception. Have you been deceived into believing that you can "make it" without God? Here are some of Satan's lies:
Satan is the most powerful created being, and he is looking for the opportunity to destroy you. "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8 NASB). With that in mind, it would seem futile (and foolish) to fight Satan, yet God tells us to resist him. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7 KJV). How can we successfully defend ourselves against such a foe?
In the very first book of the Bible (Genesis 3:15), God tells Satan's outcome. Indeed, the snake would wound man's heel, but man would crush the snake's head. The wound of the heel would hurt, but a crushed head is fatal. From the beginning, God's has told us of Satan's defeat.
The key to Satan's success in causing man to rebel against God is found in the preceding chapters. God told Adam and Eve (the first people created) that they could freely eat of all the trees in the garden except one. He knew that if they ate of that tree it would kill them --- spiritually and physically. When Satan approached Eve, he did so with a question, "Has God said ...?" When Eve failed to accurately quote God, Satan eased into the accusation that God had lied. God cannot lie, so Satan was obviously doing so. Eve believed the lie, acted on it, and became enslaved to sin.
Since then all people have been enslaved to sin. "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16 NIV). We have all sinned giving evidence that we are indeed bound by sin. No one is righteous. In fact, all of the good we might do is nothing but filthy rags in God's sight. This slavery to sin is the most powerful force affecting us. If Satan is defeated already, how can he hold man captive?
Though powerful, the answer is simple. Satan binds his prey with lies. "When [Satan] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44 NIV). Apart from the lie, Satan has no control over us. With lies, he enslaves us. What are some of the lies that Satan uses? Here are some examples with the true answer.
"Hell is not real." --- In Luke, chapter 16, Jesus told of a rich man who died. "In hell, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment." This rich man knew that hell was real. He begged, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame" (Luke 16:24).
"And, even if it were, God would not send anyone to such a terrible place." --- God did not create hell for man, but for the devil and his demons (Matthew 25:41). Since man, however, has rebelled against God, man will one day be thrown into hell. "Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
"Hey, you're not that bad." --- God's Word differs. The Bible tells us, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23 KJV). God's standard for acceptance is perfect righteousness. We all fall short --- way short. The prophet Jeremiah reveals the condition of man's heart, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV). According to Isaiah (chapter 64, verse 6), even "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags."
"There is no hope for you. You are too bad." --- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 KJV). The Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, took all of our sins in His own body (1 Peter 2:24), and died on the cross for our sins. God showed His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. There is hope in Jesus Christ.
"You can't be good enough, so why try." --- True! You can't be good enough in yourself, but that's not the point. You have been invited to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31 NKJV). Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for your sin. He also lived a perfectly righteous life, and He wants to give His righteousness to you. The Bible tells us about Abraham. "[He] believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness" (James 2:23 KJV).
Don't be enslaved to sin or Satan. "The truth shall make you free" (John 8:32 KJV). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6 KJV). Won't you believe on Him today?
If you decide to accept Christ as your Savior, or if you need help concerning your salvation, please tell us.
