The Belt of Truth
Jesus was about to ascend into heaven and leave behind His beloved disciples, whom He had commissioned to go into all the world where the devil was prowling around seeking someone to devour. Notice the first concern of our Lord in His high priestly prayer: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:15-17).
Deception is the devil’s greatest weapon, and God’s Word is our first line of defense, which is why the belt of truth is the first piece of God’s armor. Lying is the most common defense mechanism employed by unbelievers and possibly the greatest sin of believers. Those who have something to hide will seek to cover it up, and in so doing they will play right into the hands of Satan, who is the father of lies. We will stay in bondage as long as we continue to believe his lies. Some don’t want the truth to be known, because their deeds are evil and they don’t want them exposed (see John 3:20).
The first step in any recovery program is to face the truth and acknowledge our need for God, who alone has the power to overcome our sin. Those who turn to Christ find their sanctuary in Him, because Jesus is the truth (see John 14:6), the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (see John 14:17), He will lead us into all truth (see John 16:13), and that truth will set us free (see John 8:32).
If the devil tempted you, you would know it. If he accused you, you would know it. But if Satan deceived you, you wouldn’t know it, because if you did, you would no longer be deceived. That is why deception is the major tool of the devil. The fact that even good people can be deceived is evident in the sinless life of Eve before the Fall. She was deceived and believed a lie (see Genesis 3:1-6). Satan’s strategy was deception in the Garden of Eden, and will be until his final demise. “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9, NASB). Spiritual deception will likely intensify in the end times with the coming of the false prophet and the Antichrist.
We don’t overcome the father of lies through human reason or scientific research. We overcome the deceiver by divine revelation. We are admonished to walk in the light (see 1 John 1:7) and to speak the truth in love (see Ephesians 4:25). The only thing we as Christians ever have to admit to is the truth. We never have to be afraid of the truth, for it is a liberating friend. Therefore, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.