& 3 Truths You Must Remember

In examining my own heart and in speaking with other Christians, I noticed 3 major lies that many of us implicitly or explicitly believe about God. Often, we know that they are lies but in the face of suffering, uncertainty, or unfulfilled desires, we take the bait. These lies feed our fears, tint our worldview, and urge us to take matters into our own hands.

Lie #1: God is Withholding Good Things From Me

This lie is as old as sin. In the garden of Eden, it is the lie that Adam and Eve believed about God that ultimately led to the fall of mankind (Genesis 3:4-5). Somehow, we come to believe that God is stingy and reluctant to give us good gifts.

Lie #2: God is Condemning Me for My Sins

As believers, endowed with the Holy Spirit, we are aware of our unrighteousness and of how short we fall each day of the Glory of God. This is good. This is one of the truths on which the Gospel of grace stands. However, it’s an offense to the cross when we believe that there is still condemnation for us. It implies that Jesus’ sacrifice was not enough. In times of hardship, do you believe that God must be punishing you for your sins, past or present?

Lie #3: God’s ‘Good Gifts’ Will Not Be Good Enough or Will Not Satisfy Me

When Jesus says that The Father gives good things to his Children (Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13 ESV), do you doubt the goodness of his gifts? Are you disappointed that God may give you patient endurance instead of the spouse you’re praying for? Some of us come to believe that we know better than God what we need to live fulfilled lives.

How then can we escape these lies?

Remember, Remember, Remember

There are multiple commands in both the New and Old Testaments to ‘remember’ God’s Character and/or deeds. Our creator knows how easily we forget or abandon the Truth to instinctively cling to destructive and deceitful lies. We must wage war against them by the sword of the Spirit of God. We must constantly preach to our souls the truth about God; singing it out, reading it out, praying it, crying it out — getting it in the depths of our inner beings.

• Truth #1: He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

• Truth #2: There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) though there can be discipline or simply pruning/teaching

• Truth #3: In Christ, there is full and ultimate satisfaction (John 6:35;50;51;54;58, Psalm 16:11); so how come we fear and/or feel un-satisfaction?

Next week, I will address these 3 truths in detail. Stay tuned!