Face It - He Hates You

Many may remember the comment made famous by Flip Wilson years ago, "The devil made me do it!" Well, for as much as we like to quote this, it just isn't true. You can see Satan's mode of operation back in the Garden of Eden. The serpent did not drag Adam and Eve to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He did not ram the fruit (it was not an apple) into their mouths. What did he do?

As you read the encounter, you find that he begins to ask the woman questions starting in Genesis 3:1. Freeze frame. Where are they as this conversation takes place? They are already standing in front of the tree when the serpent approaches and begins to ask the questions. What were they doing there?

It must be concluded that Adam and Eve were standing there already thinking about eating the forbidden fruit. What stopped them? They knew it was wrong. It is possible that they were simply trying to figure out a way to justify doing it anyway. Enter the serpent. He provided what they were seeking - justification.

Now, how did the serpent entice them? He made them question God's Word (Genesis 3:1). He belittled the consequences (Genesis 3:4). He made them question God's goodness (Genesis 3:5). Eve was enticed by the food's appeal (Genesis 3:6). I is obvious that he had to mask his true intentions, so he had to come in the form of a friend, an advocate, and someone who wanted what was best for them both.

Jesus exposes Satan's ultimate objective: to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). To accomplish this, he will come in the form of your best friend, your advocate, and someone who wants what is best for you. He will butter you up so you will trust his advice to swallow the poison that he has set before you.

So, what does this have to do with you? Man - you are tempted to look at a provacative image on TV, the computer, or on a magazine cover. What goes through your mind? You know you shouldn't look, but you begin to think about how stressful work has been lately. You think about how cold your spouse has been to you lately. You reason that it is just one lustful look and that it will make you feel more relaxed and you won't do it again. So you take a long look at the image. You feel defeated, ashamed, and a failure.

Someone at church did something to hurt your feelings. You are hurt and angry. You know you should talk to the person about it rather than gossip, but you are too angry. You can't stand keeping all your feelings bottled up, so you pull a friend aside. You know it is probably wrong to gossip, but you reason that it will help you feel better to vent to someone. After all, you trust that they will not repeat the information to anyone.

We could go over countless examples from our own lives. But, the reality is, sin always promises to make us feel better someway, somehow. Just like in the Garden, we are basically convinced that somehow God is holding back something good from us. We feel justified doing it. But the end is always the same: the thief steals our joy and our peace. He kills our passion for Christ as well as our relationship with others. He destroys families and churches. He gives you what you want - a justification to sin against God. When you realize what you have done - realize your "nakedness" - you turn and look to your new "friend" with eyes that cry, "I can't believe you betrayed me!" He simply looks deep into your eyes.....and LAUGHS! Why? Because he truly, deeply, and passionately HATES YOU.

No matter what Satan offers you - no matter how good it seems or how good it would make you feel - know that it is given with the intent of destroying you. He never, and in no way, wants anything good for you. It is what Jesus offers that brings life and joy and peace!