The Great Untruth

Every one of us, at some point in our lives, buy into one or more fundamental untruths.  I call them fundamental untruths because they shape how we live our life and what we are basing our reality on.  Satan is called the father of lies and it is his intention that we never seek the truth, never discover how badly we have been deceived and never realize the damage that is being done by believing his lie.

Fundamental Untruth 1.  There is no God.

Millions upon millions of human beings on this planet believe this lie.  “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NASB)  God’s word tells us that His attributes, eternal power and divine nature are built in to His creation so that anyone who is honest with themselves cannot help but see and believe in Him.  Nevertheless, we humans are easily distracted and easily convinced of that which is untrue and those who believe this lie will spend eternity separated from their loving Creator.

Fundamental Untruth 2.  I can come to God on my own terms.

There are many variations to this untruth but they all boil down to one underlying deception.   Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB)  The Bible makes it very clear that unless we accept our sinful condition and our absolute powerlessness to fix ourselves and put our faith in Jesus Christ then we cannot come to the Father.  It is only by God’s grace that we are given the opportunity for salvation.  Any attempt on our part to come to God apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ will be met with failure.

This lie shows up in religions that stress works as a path to God or to enlightenment; it shows up in cultures that stress individual achievement and acclimation over Godly humility; it shows up in human pride when we refuse to admit our sinful condition.  But it all leads to the same place: separation and damnation.

Fundamental Untruth 3.  I’m saved, that’s enough.

Salvation is the first step in our journey.  It is not the destination and it is not a place to stop and rest.  If the evil one cannot keep us from being born again then the next best option for him is to keep us from ever discovering God’s call to good works for our lives.  Satan wants to keep us distracted, beaten down and ignorant; any way and any thing he can use to detour us from living in harmony with our creator he will bring against us.  “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)

This untruth is an easy one to fall into because unless we are discipled properly after accepting Jesus and we get the training we need from wiser and more mature believers we will always be easy prey for the  father of lies.  An untrained, undiscipled believer is like a soldier who has never been to bootcamp or given a weapon suddenly being called on to go to a battlefield and fight.  Either way, injury and defeat are likely.

Fundamental Untruth 4.  Going to church is a waste of time.

Going to a church where the Bible is not taught and Jesus Christ is not made the focus will actually be a waste of time.  Assembling together with a body of believers who are born again, serious about their relationship to Jesus and about Bible study is absolutely vital.  “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  (Hebrews 10:25 NASB)  The Bible specifically warns against not assembling together; i.e. not going to church.  This does not necessarily mean that you have to physically go to a church building; in some parts of the world and in the early days of Christianity, “church” was held in someone’s house.  It isn’t where you go that’s important.  What is important is why you go, who you meet with, and what you do with your time while there.  God knows we need the encouragement and support of our fellow believers and we are designed to work together.

If you find yourself currently believing one of these fundamental untruths, then I pray that you would seek the truth by first seeking the author of truth.  The best cure for not falling into deception is to know the truth by knowing Jesus Christ and reading His book, God’s word.  If you once believed one of these fundamental untruths, as I once did, and have since found or been shown the truth, then thank God for His grace and mercy, as I do.  “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4 NASB)