Satan’s Strategy for Your Life #9: Lies

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…”—Ephesians 6:14

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s, The Lord of the Rings, the character, Grima, known as Wormtongue, is the chief adviser to King Théoden. For years he has lied to and deceived the good king resulting in Théoden’s transformation from a virulent, strong, good and righteous king, to an old, horrible, and terrible king. It is not until Wormtongue is exposed as a liar and deceiver that the spell over Théoden is broken and he becomes the good and righteous king that he was before Wormtongue’s counsel.

Satan is the ultimate “Wormtongue” that has the whole world under his power (1 John 5:19), and who has  

“blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”—2 Corinthians 4:4.

Paul describes us as “having fastened on the belt of truth.” The belt of a Roman soldier held the rest of his armor together. It kept everything else in place and was the central piece of the armor. “The belt of truth” refers to truth as a key component of the Christian life. Because Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and it is by knowing the truth that we are set free (John 8:32), then truth must be the central part, stabilizing factor, and essential ingredient to be a follower of Christ.

As believers we are people who “walk in truth” (2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:3-4) that have  

“renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God”—2 Corinthians 4:2.

Satan’s main strategy is to lie and keep the world blinded, because he is, after all, the father of lies (John 8:44). And as believers, we must be on guard against his lies. He is a deceiver, who wants to discourage, divide, and destroy God’s people. He lied to Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3:4) and still lies to us today by promising us the fleeting pleasures of sin, not telling us that it leads to death.

God, on the other hand, “never lies” (Titus 1:2) and will always tell us the truth and honor those who walk in truth. As believers, we can protect ourselves against Satan’s lies by continually filling our minds with God’s Word, which is Christ personified, the written truth of God and one of the means by which we are sanctified (John 17:17).

What lies of the devil do we believe? We may have given into Satan’s lies in the past, but we don’t have to any longer. Embracing Jesus who is truth, and setting our minds upon the truth of His Word, we live life in victory and joy. Amen.