THE DELUSION THAT BACKFIRES
By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall magnify himself. Without warning he shall destroy many; and he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes; but, by no human hand, he shall be broken. Dan. 8:25, R.S.V.
Experts say that a pathological liar is a terrible self-deceived person. That is, a person who constantly is telling lies in order to keep bolstering his sagging story ends up deceiving himself more than anyone else. Long after others have caught on that he is a big bluff, he still believes that he's the most incredible gift to the neighborhood.
If this principle holds true on a broader scale, then who do you suspect might be the most self-deceived person in the whole universe? Who has been telling the most outlandish lies to the most people for the longest period of time, with the most to lose when he gets found out? None other than the father of lies, Satan himself.
In today's text Daniel prophesies that Satan's campaign for an alternative to reality will, for a time, succeed marvelously. He will deceive many with the idea that he is indeed a great leader. He will portray himself as the source of life, wisdom, and happiness. The trouble is, after six thousand years of this life, "in his own mind" he apparently believes it. He really believes that he can overthrow Jesus, the Prince of princes. With a zeal born of conviction, he will press his campaign with increasing intensity. Yet it will backfire, for when the court shall sit in judgment and the books are opened (Dan. 7:10), the Big Lie shall be exposed. He will be broken, not by might nor by power, but by God's truth.
For all who despise the successes of the enemy, what better way to oppose his work than to "turn on the lights." Wouldn't it be thrilling if Satan were to throw a party in honor of his self-claimed greatness and no one showed up? How great if all we who claim loyalty to Jesus Christ were to cease showing any response to Satan's supposedly grand patterns for living. If we were to live the Christ life with joy, with the intelligent assent of our deepest loyalties, we could help expose the fraud for what he is. The beauty of God's truth will, in the end, destroy Satan's deceptions.
By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall magnify himself. Without warning he shall destroy many; and he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes; but, by no human hand, he shall be broken. Dan. 8:25, R.S.V.
Experts say that a pathological liar is a terrible self-deceived person. That is, a person who constantly is telling lies in order to keep bolstering his sagging story ends up deceiving himself more than anyone else. Long after others have caught on that he is a big bluff, he still believes that he's the most incredible gift to the neighborhood.
If this principle holds true on a broader scale, then who do you suspect might be the most self-deceived person in the whole universe? Who has been telling the most outlandish lies to the most people for the longest period of time, with the most to lose when he gets found out? None other than the father of lies, Satan himself.
In today's text Daniel prophesies that Satan's campaign for an alternative to reality will, for a time, succeed marvelously. He will deceive many with the idea that he is indeed a great leader. He will portray himself as the source of life, wisdom, and happiness. The trouble is, after six thousand years of this life, "in his own mind" he apparently believes it. He really believes that he can overthrow Jesus, the Prince of princes. With a zeal born of conviction, he will press his campaign with increasing intensity. Yet it will backfire, for when the court shall sit in judgment and the books are opened (Dan. 7:10), the Big Lie shall be exposed. He will be broken, not by might nor by power, but by God's truth.
For all who despise the successes of the enemy, what better way to oppose his work than to "turn on the lights." Wouldn't it be thrilling if Satan were to throw a party in honor of his self-claimed greatness and no one showed up? How great if all we who claim loyalty to Jesus Christ were to cease showing any response to Satan's supposedly grand patterns for living. If we were to live the Christ life with joy, with the intelligent assent of our deepest loyalties, we could help expose the fraud for what he is. The beauty of God's truth will, in the end, destroy Satan's deceptions.
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