The Seduction Of A Lie

Satan best communicates a lie through the use of an illusion, a seductive image to appease our senses. He makes something to appear to be true, perhaps even factual or logical, but it's nothing short of a lie when confronted by the unchanging truth of God's word.

I John 2:16 tells us, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes (italics mine), and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” What we view in the natural impacts how we see God which in turn affects our understanding of God's word.

In other words, we are what we believe by what we perceive - be it the truth or a lie.

Paul writes in II Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Consider the devil tempting Eve in the garden. He came in a form of a snake. The serpent is crafty, sly and shrewd. Today most people are fearful of snakes, but in the garden where there was no fear, Eve was not taken by surprise. What made this snake different from any other snake was that it approached as if invited and talked directly to her.

Lucifer’s name means the light-bearer (Isaiah 14:12-13). He presents to Eve (and Adam who was with her) what seems to be an enlightening and enticing message that they can be like God knowing good and evil.

As it is true today, the devil tempted Eve by accusing God of lying. Lying is in direct opposition to the nature and heart of God. He is truth. Satan, on the other hand, is the father of lies (John 8:44). The devil tells Eve that God is holding back something she wants, something good, something she deserves. Before Eve eats the fruit, she consumes the lie and is blinded from seeing what really was going on in the spiritual realm. The devil lied saying she can be like God knowing both good and evil (Genesis 3:2). Scripture tells us that once she considered the fruit that it was good for food, pleasing to the eye and desirable to gain wisdom, she took and ate it (3:3).

Sadly, once Adam and Eve’s eyes were open, they realized their sin and hid from God.

Rather than enlightenment, Adam and Eve found themselves in darkness, separated from the God who deeply loved them.
And so it is today when men and women who reject God’s truth having been blinded by the god of this age. This same god does not always appear as snake. He comes wrapped in a false, seductive light while leaving countless people blinded in his chilling shadow of deception. Some even try to hide from God whenever He calls out to them much the same way He did to Adam and Eve.

He calls out not to condemn, but draw them lovingly back to His heart.