As was outlined in last weeks post, the first step in the healing process of moral sin is recognition. This seems like an easy place to start. After all, we each know ourselves better than anyone else does, so recognizing sin in our life should be simple. However, there are hinderances to this process we need to consider.
The first is that although we know the thoughts and actions of our own life, agreeing with God that they are a problem may be avoided. This has many causes. One is the fact that we don’t want to admit to ourselves that we have done anything wrong. Therefore, we redefine actions which God calls sin as simply a glitch in our choices or an abortion of our “normal” behavior. Another potential problem is rationalization. We may excuse away our actions as the result of someone else’s actions toward us. “My wife is not meeting my physical needs, therefore, it’s okay for me to look for that fulfilment somewhere else.” Or, “My job and family responsibilities place me in a lot of stress. This activity is just a means of relaxing and dealing with that stress.”
Another justification would be to blame God. Although this is absurd, many people do it and we must be aware of the tendency in our own lives. This may take the form of statements like, “God is outdated. He doesn’t understand the pressure currently put on a man.” Or the big one, “Why would God put such a strong urge in my life and then deny me the opportunity to satisfy it? Wouldn’t that just make him cruel and uncaring?”
Another dangerous excuse is to keep spiritual score. “I honor God with most of my life so he will overlook this one indiscretion.”
Whatever the false justification, the best way to defeat it is to understand its source. Satan is described throughout Scripture with a variety of word pictures that help us understand his motives. His attacks are purposeful and well designed to cause us the most pain and difficulty. As one who masquerades as the “Angel of Light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) he can put on a good show that seems plausible but is intended to cause pain and chaos in our lives. That is his purpose. If his true motive of cruelty were evident, we would be horrified and flee.
Look at these descriptions of the character of Satan. John 8:44, You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Revelation 12:10, Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
If we are to be honest with ourselves concerning those thoughts and actions that have crept into our lives, we need to begin by recognizing the weapons Satan is using against us. To do this, we must always compare our excuses and justifications to the unfailing Word of God. He is very obvious. Immorality is clearly outlined in Scripture along with the warnings to avoid it. To fail to recognize what Satan is doing places us in a very difficult position. The danger is to our own lives, that of our family, and to the name of Christ.
Please, take an honest look and listen to the Spirit of God. He will reveal the lies of Satan.