If God’s Word is our ultimate source of truth, what does loyalty to it look like? Satan’s strategy always has been to make us doubt, deny, and disobey God’s words. God’s Word is not just contained in the book called the Bible. God’s Word is a person – the eternal Logos, the second divine person of the Trinity.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (NASB95)
The Logos became a human being named Jesus (John 1:14), who revealed that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). God’s Word is always true (John 17:17), and it reveals that the only way to experience God’s life is through our Lord Jesus.
Since Jesus is the Logos or Word made flesh, to reject God’s Word is to reject Jesus.
Faith in and loyalty to Jesus includes being loyal to his Word. Every person will eventually face a crisis that tests our loyalty to God’s Word.
For Adam and Eve, it happened in the garden when Satan, disguised as a serpent, questioned Eve and cast doubt upon God’s integrity and the truthfulness of his words.
Adam and Eve failed the loyalty test. It is important that we pass it.
Satan is a cunning deceiver, whom Jesus called the “father of lies.” Speaking to the Pharisees, the Jewish religious leaders who resisted God’s truth, Jesus said:
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. John 8:44–45 (NKJV)
We need to understand that the devil’s lies are still very seductive. Through deception he has enslaved most of humanity.
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:9 (NKJV)
Before God opens our eyes and hearts, we naturally resist the truth.
Once a lie sets up residence in our hearts and minds, it is easier for us to believe a lie than accept God’s truth. Unsaved people actively resist God’s truth. Even if we have been born again, we may still resist the truth in some areas.
We were created by God to be believers. God set things up so that we can never know everything by our own brain power. Certain areas of life and truth must be accepted by faith.
For example, we cannot empirically prove God’s existence to the satisfaction of an atheist. We can only know this truth by revelation and faith. But neither can an atheist prove the non-existence of God. He simply accepts it as an presupposition. To him or her it may seem obvious, but it cannot be proved.
Because God created us to be believers, we are capable of being deceived into believing something that is false. Knowing this, Satan immediately set out to deceive us into choosing to become “knowers” instead of “mere” believers. The lie that we can know in such a way that we do not need God any longer was a temptation Adam and Eve were not able to resist. Once they fell for the lie, it made it all the easier for Satan to deceive their offspring, who had been cut off from the one called the Truth.
Satan understands that when lies are repeated to us over and over again, we tend to believe them. This is called “brainwashing.” Once often repeated lies take up residency in our brains, they are extremely difficult to overcome. Because of mass media, such deception is increasing. Paul warned us about this state of affairs.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NKJV)
Satan’s lies erect logical “strongholds” or fortresses in our minds that resist the entrance of God’s truth.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (NKJV)
The only way to overcome these lie-based strongholds is by accepting the truth of the Word of God as revealed by the Spirit of God, whose ministry includes guiding us into all truth.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth... John 16:13a (NKJV)
Just as we must choose Jesus above every false god vying for our allegiance, so we must be loyal to God’s Word above every lie that opposes it.
We must beware of lying presuppositions that try to prevent us from a childlike acceptance of God’s truth. This seems as if it would be a simple matter to root these out, but it is not so easy. For example, most Christians today accept the heliocentric view of what is called the solar system. We have been taught from childhood that his is reality. Therefore, when believers read Genesis Chapter One, they interpret it through the lens of heliocentrism. This causes us to twist God’s Word to means something other than God intended.
The world portrays those of us who adhere to the Bible’s teaching about the origin of mankind as ignorant religious extremists who resist scientific progress.
To go against the dominant “scientific” worldview is to risk, or perhaps guarantee, being labeled a fool. This is a price everyone who is loyal to God’s Word must be willing to pay. (1 Corinthians 4:10)
Jesus revealed how important it is to be loyal to God’s Word, if we are going to experience freedom from Satan’s enslaving lies.
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31–32 (NKJV)
It is time for God’s people to rededicate ourselves to God’s Word and determine that we will adhere to it no matter how costly it may prove to be. Those who honor his Word will be honored by God.
For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:2 (NKJV)
