S.Robinson

I actually, have suffered from this condition for years.  It has only been recently, through our current difficulties that I have truly begun to understand it. Our self Image can be distorted, and the road to being healed is to realize how it happened in the first place.

All of us have multiple sides to our personalities! Some of us are parents and our children see that face;  our friends, enemies and others see another side to our personalities! Everyone is not our child and many are not our friends. We deal with people in light of our relationship to them. Our opinions may set us in direct opposition to people we love very much. How we deal with these differences can be life, or death to our relationships! Life is very similar to a Broadway puppet show! We are the puppets and there are many vying for control.  Satan pulls the strings on those who accuse, hate and divide family and churches! God, pulling the strings brings peace, love and mercy. The Bible talks about fruit, and these are the evidences of who the puppeteer is.

 The enemy distorts our self image, and the image of each other by accusing the brethren. He causes division and anger for the sole purpose of causing hate and suspicion. His goal is complete separation and disagreement. Why, the Bible tells us – Mat_18:19  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. So it makes sense that an enemy would divide to conquer.  The same is true of our relationship with God! This has been Satan’s ploy since the beginning. In Genesis the serpent said to Eve – “has God said?” He cast doubt in her mind about Gods motives.  Eve could only speak from second hand knowledge.

She wasn’t created when God told Adam about the tree. She soon gave in to the temptations.  Satan’s lies distorted Eves view of God. Satan also accuses us to God. He is the ultimate tattle tale. “Rev_12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

Satan attempted the same ploy against Jesus.  Luke 4:3  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.  Luke 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  Luke 4:5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. Luke 4:6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. Luke 4:7  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. Luke 4:8  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

Jesus passed the test, because he recognized Satan’s plan. We are devoured of the enemy because we don’t see the reason behind his desire to destroy our self image.  You see, Satan does not care if you have confidence in your own sinful flesh, that’s not the image he is trying to distort. He comes to make you doubt the Lord in you. He wants you to think God can’t use you and He is not in you! He lies and accuses to kill Jesus in you!  Yes, to kill Jesus’ life and influence in you!

Remember, they disputed the Lords deity. They said he was just Josephs son. They said, “He has a devil.” They said, “he cast out demons by the power of devils!”  Yes, they maligned him. Yes, they tried to kill him. Yes Satan is still trying to kill His influence in the world! How? Jesus said, the sower went out to sow. He also said, Satan/ the thief came to steal the seed which is the Word. Jesus is the word the Bible says. If Satan can steal your faith in Jesus – He has effectively killed Jesus in you! Col_1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: So there is danger in image distortion! Whether you are self righteous, self condemning, or condemning God! The Bible has your mirror. It’s plainly written how we should live in this present world. Satan is clearly portrayed as the thief and the murderer. Jesus is clearly the Savior who loves us, and gave Himself for us all.   Mankind is fallen, and come so very short of the glory of God. Man has no hope in this world except to fall at the Cross of Jesus and accept the free gift Jesus purchased. Be careful not to distort someones image of themselves. Be careful to love and uplift them. Be prayerful and kind. Jesus is in them….