Satan's Lies

September 25, 2005

Text John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see

life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

As I read the Editorial cartoon in yesterday’s paper I was reminded of a quote by Edmund Burke “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”

The cartoon was attempting to honor Simon Wiesenthal -- the recently departed famous “Nazi Hunter”.

Mr. Wiesenthal has spent almost 60 years in this activity. Many war criminals were brought to Justice thanks to his efforts.

However the cartoon helps to spread two of Satan’s greatest lies.

It depicts a scene that is obviously hell. In the scene is a caricature of Hitler, and caricatures of what appears to be Goebbels, Gehring, and Himmler. The next caricature is of Satan speaking to Hitler and associates.

Satan states “ You’re in one place Simon Wiesenthal won’t be coming to hunt for Nazis”

The implication is clear -- Simon is in heaven .

Satan -- the master liar -- often mixes in enough truth to camouflage the lie. We can all agree that the Nazis depicted were truely evil -- not in anyway followers of Jesus -- and that they certainly deserved punishment and/or death and hell.

We also know that Mr. Wiesenthal did much good in his life. Hence the first lie -- salvation by works.

We know also that Mr. Wiesenthal was of the Jewish faith --- unless he was a secret believer -- like Nicodemus or Joseph of Aramathea -- He not only would not trust Jesus as his savior, he would think that he was a fraud, a liar, a lunatic, or just a nice misguided insane illegitimate ordinary man with carpentry skills.

And now you have the second lie -- Satan wants us to believe that all nice people get to heaven -- and that there are many paths -- Satan wants us to falsely believe that our great loving God could not possibly condemn someone -- He loves everyone -- He is our

buddy. How could He be so nasty. Are not the Jews, Muslims, Mormans, Hindus, Buddhists and the New Age “Neo-Druids” and other pagans all nice people? Don’t they do good works and love each other. Don’t they protect the environment? Don’t they raise

smart children? Why should they be punished for not believing the “foolishness of the cross.” which for us is the power of salvation.

We know the truth and must speak the truth in as loving a way as is possible or evil will triumph in the hearts of many doomed people.

Paul tells us that we are fighting not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The final victory was already secured for us By Jesus on the Cross -- but there will be many casualties between now and when Jesus returns.

Satan is slick -- Satan is “enlightened” -- like all liars he tells us what we want to hear. Go ahead do it -- you deserve it -- look out for number one -- you are the master race, you should run the world -- go ahead everybody cheats -- Jesus is not the only way -- God keeps score, do some more good deeds and you will make it to heaven etc., etc. ad infinitum.

These lies are blasted at us every day --Newspapers, Radio, Television, the Internet -- We are taught the “Politically correct line” repeatedly in our self centered, self loving, pleasure seeking “politically correct” culture..

I have some very large very old pine trees in my yard. As they approach death, they are producing more pine cones than ever before in an attempt to survive as a species in this area.

Satan is doing the same thing -- He lost the decisive battle on Calvary -- the victory was won by Jesus but Satan is spewing out more lies than ever in an attempt to win as many souls as possible before his ultimate demise.

We know the Biblical truth -- we are saved by Grace, through faith, we can not save ourselves - it is a gift of God - we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works. We can not stand before our Holy God -- we are not good enough . We can only approach Him

clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. Because of Jesus we have received the spirit of sonship and because of Jesus we can call God “Father”.

We know and believe John 14:6 --- Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."