Satan’s Lies and The Truths To Debunk Them

Satan is the father of lies. He deceives and distracts. It is helpful to recognize his lies and know the truth to refute them.
Here is a list of the common lies and some powerful truth that can help you push back on those lies.

List of Common Lies  &  Truth To Debunk Them

Lie: “God doesn’t exist.”

Truth:

Psalm 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works; there is none who does good.”

Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

Isaiah 45:5 “I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me.”

Dig deaper on this topic:

My Blog Post: Why Should An Inteligent Person Believe In God?

Lie: “God doesn’t really love you.”

Truth:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.'”

Lie: “God is far away and doesn’t really care about what happens to you.”

Truth:

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Matthew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Isaiah 41:10  “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Lie: “This earthly life is all there is, there is no life after death.”

Truth:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 11:25-26  “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?'”

Ecclesiastes 12:7 “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

1 Corinthians 15:19-20 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Revelation 21:4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Dig Further On This Topic:

My Web Page for resources on Life After Death / Near Death Experiences

My Video Playlist – What Can We Learn From Near Death Experiences

Lie: “Your life has no purpose.”

Truth:

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Psalm 139:14  “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.”

Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

Lie: “The Bible is just a myth, it is all fiction.”

Truth:

2 Timothy 3:16  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

 2 Peter 1:20-21 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Luke 1:1-3 “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”

Dig Further On This Topic:

My Video Playlist: Is the Bible Fact of Fiction? What evidence do we have that the bible is not fiction?

Lie: “Heaven isn’t real.”

Truth:

John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

1 Peter 1:4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”

Revelation 21:4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Dig Further On This Topic:

My Web Page Dedicated to resources on Life After Death / Near Death Experiences

The Book – Heaven Is Real – First Hand Experience of Colin Burpo

My Video Playlist – What Can We learn From Near Death Experiences

My Video Playlist – What Can We Learn from Emanual Swedenborg 

Lie: “Hell isn’t real.”

Truth:

Revelation 20:15 “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Matthew 25:46  “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Luke 16:23-24   “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’”

Dig deeper on this topic:

Howard Storm’s testimony of visiting Hell during His near death experience – story takes a while to develop but it is powerful

Lie: “The devil isn’t real.”

Truth:

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

John 8:44 “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.”

Ephesians 6:11-12 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Lie: “God is punishing you.”

Truth:

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”

Jeremiah 29:11  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Lie: “God won’t provide for you.”

Truth:

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:31-33 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

 Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.”

Lie: “You can’t trust God’s promises.”

Truth:

Numbers 23:19  “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

Hebrews 10:23  “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Isaiah 55:11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

Lie: “You should be afraid.”

Truth:

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Isaiah 41:13        “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.'”

Lie: “You are alone in your struggles.”

Truth:

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Matthew 28:20  “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

Lie: “You don’t need God.”

Truth:

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Proverbs 3:5-6   “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Psalm 62:5-8 “My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Lie: “You don’t need to read the Bible or pray.”

Truth:

Matthew 4:4 “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”‘”

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Lie: “Your prayers don’t matter.”

Truth:

James 5:16 “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

1 John 5:14-15   “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Lie: “You’re defined by your past.”

Truth:

 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Isaiah 43:18-19  “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

 Lie: “You are too sinful for God to forgive you.”

Truth:

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”

Isaiah 1:18 “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.'”

Micah 7:18-19    “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities.”

Lie: “You can never change.”

Truth:

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Philippians 1:6   “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

Lie: “There is no hope for your future.”

Truth:

Jeremiah 29:11  “‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ says the Lord, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.'”

Romans 15:13    “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Psalm 37:23-24  “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

Lie: “You’re better off giving up.”

Truth:

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Lie: “Live however you want, Sin has no consequences.”

Truth:

Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

James 1:15 “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”

Lie: “There is no right or wrong; do what feels good.”

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

 Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Lie: “You should follow your heart above all else.”

Truth:

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'”

Lie: “You’re in control of your own destiny.”

Truth:

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Jeremiah 10:23 “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”

James 4:13-15 “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'”

Lie: “You can earn your way to heaven, just do more good than evil.”

Truth:

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'”

 

How Are You Filling The God Shaped Hole In Your Soul?

Have you discovered the “God shaped hole” in your sole?

You may not realize it, but we are each connected to God deep in our soul; His Love is wired directly into a repository in our hearts. He plants that connection in us before we are born and it remains for eternity whether we notice it or not.
We can feel this connection resonate inside us as a warm feeling when we observe someone doing a selfless act; Like a fireman running into a burning building to save someone. We can feel it when we are deeply moved by a love story playing out in a movie or we hear a wonderful piece of music. We can feel it when we experience a sense of awe as we admire the milky way spread across a dark sky, or feel the tranquil beauty of a sunrise or sunset, or the calm and peaceful feeling as we watch a waterfall or the waves on the ocean or the flow of a babbling brook, or the ripples spreading on a quiet pond.
Many folks do not recognize this connection. The activities of daily life tend to keep our focus on other things, urgent things, earthly things – What do I need to do today? Where do I need to go? What do I need to wear? What am I going to eat? Who am I going to see?  What do they think of me? 

How do you choose to fill the God Shaped Hole?

The God Shaped Hole in your soul yearns to be filled. If you choose not to fill it with God, you will fill it with something else. Some folks completely emmerse themselves in work and try to seek fulfillment there. Some try to fill this hole with things; money, fancy cars, houses, collectibles, etc. Some folks try to filll it with hedonistic persuits…pleasure and excesses in this life. Some try to fill it through building personal power, using and abusing people for thier benefit. Some try to hide from it and excape it through alchohola and drugs. Many eventually come to realize none of these approaches can fill this God Shaped Hole. Sadly, they only figure it out after they have caused severe distress for themselves and those around them. This is recoverable if you discover it and change course in time, but the longer you wait the more of a mess you are making. The really big problem is if you never figure it out and change course; You are stuck with what ever you have put in your God shaped hole for eterntiy;  Eternity without God will not be pretty. You have free will to choose, but your choices have consequences.    
If you do not yet have God filling your God shaped hole, there is no time like the present. Some folks find it useful to acknowledge thier God Shaped Hole,  your connection to God.  Pause for a moment and push all of these earthly distractions aside. Take time to look outside of yourself, notice the beauty of world all around you: The sky, the landscape, the water, the plants, the animals, the people. Take a deep breath and reflect on it. Tune to the feelings deep in your heart. your inner most feelings. Let yourself be moved to a place of appreciation for the beauty that is all around you, and you will begin ot sense this connection.
Once you have found the connection, we can tune in to it. Find a quiet peaceful place, sit comfortably, close your eyes, quiet your conscious brain, allow yourself to drift to that place where you appreciated the beauty around you, reflect deeply in your heart. Ask why am I here? What is my purpose? You will sense that you are part of something bigger than yourself, You will find your heart longs to be closer to something outside of you, something transcendent. God has planted eternity in your heart; If you took this exercise seriously, you will have just found the God Shaped Hole in your soul.
Recognizing that you are connected to eternity can go a long way towards opening your mind to being willing to acknowledge and then explore the spiritual side of life and fill that God Shaped Hole in your soul with God.
Have a great day!
——————————————————————

Supporitng Scripture

You have a God shaped hole planted in you
“… He has put eternity in their hearts….” Ecclesiastes 3:11
You must take the inititvie in order to find him
“… seek, and you will find…” Matthew 7:7

God knows your heart, and you will eventually get what you deserve

“I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give to each man according to his ways,
According to the results of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10

You need to seek Him, find Him, and serve Him with all your heart….or there are consequences

“…know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9

 

Do you understand the  Gospel? How do you know?

 

Do you really understand the gospel message? Are you sure? How do you know?
Do you know Him? Does He know you? It is a big deal – the biggest.
See if the following description fits your understanding… if not… you are missing out now, and will be very disappointed when you knock on heavens door and He says….sorry I don’t know you.
Please get to know Him personally while you still can – the days are getting short.
Clarification of the Gospel..
He did not die just so you could get into heaven someday, He died so you could bring heaven to earth right here and right now. He died so you could live “in Him”; He died so you could become love, So you could become His love in action; He died so you could become your best self, the person He intended for you to be; He died so He could come and live inside each of us. He died so we could live fully reunited with the Father. He died so we each could become the body of Christ, His arms and legs on this earth. He died so we could become like Him, so people would see Him when they see us. He died so you could be a light that shines in this dark world. He died so you could be a bright beacon for Him and the kingdom.
If this resonates and is how you live your life, then I look forward to partnering with you planting seeds for the kingdom as we execute this life, and I look forward to spending eternity with you in His presence.
If this does not resonate – please verify the facts behind you understanding… you are likely the victim of modern doctrine based on one or more lies.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6)
He saw this coming and made a big deal about focusing on The Word and gaining knowledge (facts), understanding (meaning in context), and wisdom (experience in application).
“Get wisdom! Get understanding! 
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her (wisdom), and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you. 
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:5-7)
………………………………………..
I will offer one point of discussion that may offend some but hopefully opens some eyes to the truth
Believing is a great start, it opens the door, but it is not enough just to “believe” as Even the devil believes.. and trembles.
“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19)
Your belief only becomes effective when you choose to put it into action in faith, and then that faith into action as works in your life.
“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17)

He makes a very direct and crystal clear statement that in order to get into heaven, He must KNOW you. And for Him to KNOW you, you must conform to His commandments. That is a lot more involved than just “believing”.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
For Him to “know you” means you have conformed yourself to His commandments.. That is putting your belied into action in your heart and soul. It is much more involved than just believing and it is not easy.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
You must conform your behavior and how you live your life. Your life lived is the evidence of what you truly believe. If you have become love, and people can see Christ when they see you and talk to you, than you have it right. If your life lived looks more like a secular non-Christian than you have missed the point.
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)
You also can’t just “Earn” your way into heaven either by just doing stuff. You must gain knowledge (facts), then understanding, then you accept those beliefs as truths in your heart. Then you build Faith as you act on those beliefs in your heart. The process of acting on your beliefs is what builds faith and opens the door to God’s miraculous salvation. If there is no action, there is no faith. If you act with no foundation of belief you are wasting your time on empty “Works”.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith (acting on beliefs), and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The intended process is to put beliefs into action to build faith, then apply that faith to choices in your life to do the good works He laid out for you.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-11)
You get there by following Jesus, getting to know Him, transforming how you think and act to align with His will, denying your selfish agendas, Inviting Him to live inside you, and living a life focused on flowing value to others. When you do that, you act on solid beliefs in faith, your “works” demonstrate your faith and naturally bring glory to the kingdom. You know Him, He knows you, and You have brought heaven to earth.
Understanding the Gospel message is the foundation… the rock on which all is built.
Just my two cents
Hope this is helpful
Happy to discuss any and all

 

Do you act like you believe?

 

Do you believe in God? Do you act as if you believe in God? Both matter.

Many people claim to “believe” only because they think it will get them into heaven. They don’t act any differently than those who don’t believe. They will be disappointed when they are not on the access list at the pearly gates.

Believing is necessary and it is a great starting point.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Believing starts in your head when you acknowledge that you understand the sequence of events in the bible and you accept they are true. The next level is to comprehend the significance of those events and their ramifications. The next level is to understand your role in the story, what Jesus did for you, and what you need to do as a result. The next level is to embrace your role and become committed to the journey; That commitment to doing is what it means to “believe in your heart”. 

“…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Many current church programs miss the mark: They market Christianity with an exclusive focus on getting into heaven. They get peoples heads believing then rush them into a confession of salvation and declare success. Not a good long term strategy for the kingdom.

Once you properly understand the Gospel, you discover it is not about speaking a promise so you are qualified to get into heaven someday, it is about doing the work of transforming yourself today so that you can bring heaven to earth hear and now.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Jesus never asked anyone to make a pledge of belief just so they could get into heaven someday. He asked them to stop focusing on themselves in this earthly life and then to be willing to suffer any consequences now for the promise of eternal life in the kingdom with Him.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’ ” (Matthew 16:24-26)

He made it clear that believing in your head is not enough, you must be committed to self reflection and adjustment to turn from sin and gain alignment with God’s principles.

“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ” (Matthew 4:17)

“Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3, 5)

Let’s see what true belief might look like:

If you genuinely believe there is a God, then you will live in fear (respect) of the lord, knowing He is watching your thoughts and actions, knowing you will be judged on the day of reckoning, and knowing you will suffer or be rewarded based on how you lived your life.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor 5:10)

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth” (1 Peter 1:17)

If you genuinely believe, you know that Jesus paid a huge price for your eternal life, and the least you can do is live this life worthy of that price.

“…let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27)

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Jesus made it clear that merely believing is not enough, nor is going through extensive religious motions; To get into heaven, you must change and come into alignment with God’s will.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23).

What does it mean to do the will of the Father? Or for Jesus to ”Know You”? Or to not practice lawlessness? The answer is pretty simple: You must keep His commandments!

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (1 John 2:3)

The two great commandments are to love God first and foremost, and to love your neighbor as yourself. You must bring yourself and your life into alignment with these two big rules to get into heaven.

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Many folks view the commandment as restrictions, what they don’t realize is they are wonderful tools. They help us discover and overcome the flaws in our inner nature. We live in a fallen world; We are each born with self-centered, self-serving agendas in our heart. Generally, they sound a bit like “It is all about me here and now”. Those self-serving agendas tend to cause problems for us and others as we go through life; They are the roots of all sin and can rear up and get ugly if we allow them to continue to live in us. They also limit us; We cannot reach our full potential until we discover them, root them out, and move them the out of our way.

In order to accomplish God’s will and comply with the commandments, we must change or focus from earthly or worldly things, start to see things from His heavenly eternal perspective,  and then modify our behavior to align. 

I find it most helpful to look at this is as a flow; A flow of Love. Love is the answer. The entire spiritual world is driven by love.  The Lords love must flow through us to get to others and to attract them to His kingdom. When there are kinks in our pipes, we impede the flow of His love, and limit His reach. God is Love (1 John 4:8). He loves us (John3:16). His love flows into us (1 John 4:16). We love others because He loved us first (1 John 4:19). His love is perfected when it flows through us (1 John 4:12). Everything we do is to be done in Love (1 Corinthians 16:14). 

The Lord has given us a life, talents and gifts, a network of family, friends and associates, a bunch of worldly resources, and many opportunities. How we use what we are given is up to us. When our ego gets in the way, or we hoard the resources or squander the opportunities He provides us, or we get wrapped around the axil on petty selfish concerns, we impede the flow of His love into us or through us to others. So the challenge is to find the kinks in our pipes and straighten them out.

I offer A couple of exercises to help you:

  1. Look at your activities: Go through your typical day or week, Ask yourself Why you do each of the things you do. Is it for God? Is it for someone else? Or is it for you? If it is for you, is it just for you, are you really the only person benefiting? Those are opportunities. Many times it is a mental connect the dots activity. ex: I am exercising 3x per week. Why: so I can stay healthy. OK Why? Because I want to live a long life. OK why? So I can be of service to others? Now we are getting somewhere! What is your root motivation for doing the things you do… start connecting each activity either to serving God directly or enabling you to serve others and it will shift your focus. If you are spending energy on things and you can’t connect to a higher purpose, you have a kink to work out.
  2. How do you view God? Is He the creator, the source of all that is good in the world, your provider, your shepherd, your savior, your redeemer, your healer? How much do you know about Him? Can you see His hand in your life? Do you know him personally? Do you talk with him often? Do you hear His voice? Do you feel His presence? Are you letting Him lead you? If not, you have a kink on the incoming side and are not getting the full load of His love into your life.
  3. How do you view other people? Are they obstacles to deal with as you go through your day? Are they resources to help you get things done? Are they each God’s children struggling to live in a fallen world? How you think of them shapes how you interact with them. Do you have any kinks in the outflowing side of your love? Become His Love in action.
  4. How do your view your material possessions? Are they fancy things to acquire and show off? Are they God’s resources you are prudently managing to be of service to yourself and others? Are there any kinks or plugs in your internal pluming. How is His love flowing through your resources?

Your life is an interview for heaven. How is it going so far?

Remember: Believing is only a start; Love is the answer. Reaffirm your commitment to keep the commandments. Recognize the opportunities to get “yourself” out of the way, ask the lord for help to root out your selfish interests.

Find ways to flow some of His love today: Smile, Be pleasant, Be supportive, Be encouraging, Be helpful, Be generous, Become God’s love in action.

God bless you, and may God bless the USA