Satan — the one who rebelled against God’s ultimate authority — had firsthand knowledge of what happens when we choose to disregard the authoritative Word of God.
He knew that the was One God and that no one else could or would sit on the throne, and yet he ignored the truth and tried to overthrow God and take the seat of power that is God’s alone.
The result was Satan being kicked out of heaven as the chief fallen angel, along with the other angels that he convinced to go along with him.
That same Satan approached Eve in the garden and convinced her that God’s Word wasn’t as authoritative as she had thought. “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1)
She bought it, took the forbidden fruit, and the rest is history. But getting Eve (and us) to question the authority of God’s Word isn’t the ultimate lie.
The ultimate lie is getting us to question the goodness of the Author.
Hang with me and watch how this plays out.
God gives us unquestionable truth in His Word that, though hard at times, is ultimately for our good.
Satan convinces us that those commands are merely suggestions, and that a good God wouldn’t stop you from doing what you think is good and good for you.
We disobey God’s commands, and then we reap the consequences of that decision. The very outcome that the commands were designed to keep us from play out in our lives.
And then, Satan whispers the ultimate lie: “If God really loved you, these bad things wouldn’t be happening in your life.”
When we buy that lie, he keeps us from returning to the only One who can redeem us from the brokenness caused by our choices. We keep ourselves at a distance from the God who desires fellowship with us, even in our fallen condition.
The most hopeful words in the story of mankind’s worst moment?
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9 NIV, emphasis mine)
God still calls to us. He pursues us. He wants us to come out of hiding so that He can cover us. Don’t buy the lie that He isn’t good. He is good, and He does good (Psalm 119:68).
Even when we don’t.
