“ ‘…(The devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies’ ” (John 8:44, NIV).
You’ve probably seen the cartoon caricatures. A little red devil, with horns on his head and a pitchfork in his hand, mysteriously appears on the shoulder of an unsuspecting individual. This devil stands in opposition to an angel, a winged being clad in white, with a halo gracing his head, who sits strategically atop the individual’s other shoulder. Each attempt to persuade the conflicted person to heed their advice. The devil is seen as a trickster, the angel as a moral compass. Their banter is playful and predictable. Ultimately, the individual must decide. To whom will he listen?
But I urge you – do not let the cartoons fool you! The devil is very real and shares little in common with his pitchforked friend. He wants more than to lead you down a wayward path. The devil wants your very soul, and he’ll do anything within his power to attain it.
Jesus called it like he saw it, referring to the devil as a murderer, who seeks to steal both the present and eternal life of his victims. The devil is a liar to his very core. There is no truth found within him. He speaks only the language he knows, language that is weaponized with shame, sin, and mistruth, each aimed directly at the heart of man.
Still, Jesus is greater. Jesus is truth incarnate. He embodies love and acceptance, mercy and forgiveness. Listen to his grace-filled words. He, too, is whispering in your ear – you are loved, you are redeemed, you are free.
Chuck Kralik, Author 