The Deceptive Father

By Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret.

“When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

C.S. Lewis said we could fall into one of two errors concerning devils: First is, do not believe in them. Second, have an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. I think most of the culture we live in just do not believe in them. Others are cultish about their excessive interest in them. 

But according to the Bible, Satan and his multitude of helpers are! They are as real as the sunrise you witness with your own eyes. The chief of them, Satan, is called by Jesus “the father of lies. “You tell a lie? You can know for certain that Satan is behind it!

But it’s not something you can blame just on him. That allegedly, “the devil made me do it.” He wants you to lie, because it aids in his purposes for you, that is, accompanying him into the depths of Hell. Lies and more lies only erode you. Your character is impacted again and again until there is little, if any, left. Lying can never build character. In fact, it is antithetical to a godly person. A godly person reflects God, who is the truthful One. God never lies. 

Lewis’ Screwtape Letters is an excellent study of Satan’s deceptions. Satan is seldom a straightforward, obviously evil person. He is the master of masquerade, the great illusionist, the perennial deceiver. You do not stand a chance of confronting him on your own. Following Jesus’ example in the wilderness, you must enlist the Holy Spirit as your anti-devil power and ultimate strength. 

The Bible says absolutely, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to human beings. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. 

As Jesus was tempted “in every way you are,” you are tempted for the purpose of growing your faith. If your faith is not regularly tested, it will not grow. If you do not walk or run, your leg muscles shrink and atrophy. In the same way, your soul must be stretched, worked, and tested to grow in maturity and to thrive in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

If you do not know Christ, you will know Satan without really always recognizing him, because he wants to keep you away from Christ. It is his greatest objective. He wants you Christ-less. So draw near to Christ, and He will draw near to you. That is His promise. Trust in it! And ACT on it!

Remember, Satan masquerades as an angel of light. In other words, you will think he and his temptation are as right for you as sliced bread, or as anything you can imagine. If you do not “test the spirits,” as 1 John 4 says, “to see whether they are of Christ,” you will succumb to their wiles. 

Satan is defeatable, but only for those in Christ, and those drawing near to Him. Such renders you unbendable to the father of lies. Love the truth. This is your bulwark. After all, Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the Life. If you love truth, it means you really love Jesus. If you love Jesus, you really love truth. 

Encouragement

“You are the living Truth! All wisdom dwells in you, the Source of every skill, the one eternal TRUE! O great, I AM! In you, we rest, sure answer to our every quest.”

(3rd verse of Margaret Clarkson’s hymn, “We Come, O Christ, to You,” 1985)