During World War II, Franklin Roosevelt addressed the American nation by radio with those now famous words which the WWII generation will never forget, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
Those words from our president gave the American people a sense of courage, resolve, and unity which enabled our nation to overcome the very real and very evil threat of Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire.
Now, in the year 2020, America – and many nations on planet earth – are engaged in a battle with an unseen enemy called COVID19. The coronavirus is a real threat to human life. And, it is a threat which must be attacked and defeated.
However, there is another enemy which must also be attacked and defeated if our nation – or any nation – is to endure. This other enemy has been on planet earth since the beginning of time. And, this enemy is growing stronger and more threatening as time marches on.
This enemy is no respecter of persons, families, or nations. In likeness to the coronavirus, this enemy is invisible to the naked eye. And, this enemy can be rendered ineffective only by those persons who have been trained to identify the enemy and to willingly follow the instructions for the antidote.
This insidious and deadly enemy is called “deception” (also known as falsehood) and the only cure is truth. In this single article we cannot present a full discussion of the battle between good and evil, truth and lies. So, I will do my best to cut to the chase, to identify the enemy, and to present the only strategy which assures us of victory.
Jesus said that all deceit, all deception, and all lies come from one source and one source only. That source is Satan.
Jesus spoke these words to the men who opposed Jesus and who also opposed and the truth which Jesus was teaching, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He 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. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:42 – 47
Now, I know that there may be some people who are reading this article who do not believe that there is such a person as the devil or that the devil can have any influence over you or your life. You may believe that the devil (his given name is Satan) is just a figment of my imagination and I am a fool. You have the freedom to express your own opinions about me and/or Satan. Yet, I urge you to read on. It will only cost you a few minutes of your time. And, you most likely have the extra time right now because you cannot go anywhere due to the coronavirus. 😊
So, buckle up Buckaroo, as we refer to some quotations from the Bible.
First, go back and read John 8:42 – 47 above. Those verses are the Cliff notes on the personality of Satan and on the root source of all evil on planet earth.
So, like it or not, the reality of life is that planet earth is a battle ground. Shortly after the creation of Adam and Eve, they surrendered their God-given control over planet earth to a powerful evil spiritual being named Satan.
Satan is not equal to God. Satan was created by God; and, Satan rebelled against God in eternity past. Sometime after Satan’s rebellion, God created planet earth for humans to possess and control. But, as noted above in the quotation by Jesus, Satan stole control of planet earth from Adam and Eve by – yep, you guessed it – lies, deceit, and falsehood. God responded to that theft by sending His Son Jesus to defeat the powers of Satan and sin by dying on a cross to pay our sin debt in full.
Because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we can now choose between the forgiveness of Christ and the condemnation of sin. God did not create us to be robots. Instead, God has given to every human the freedom to choose between allegiance to God or allegiance to the rebellion of Satan. We can choose good or evil. Heaven or hell. Truth or lies. Eternal life or eternal condemnation.
Everybody is in this game. There are no spectators. Jesus said that you are either for Him or against Him. There is no middle ground. The final stage has been set. It is all pre-recorded in the Bible. Take a look at it if you have the guts. There are winners and losers. If you choose Satan, the world system, and lies, that is the choice you make. And, your choice will last for eternity.
If you choose Jesus and the truth, then you will live forever in the presence of a holy and righteous God where there is no evil, no deception, no sorrow, no pain, and no death. The Bible says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Again, there is no middle ground. The greatest lie which now dominates our nation and the world is this: “What is true for you is true for you. And, what is true for me is true for me. Let’s just learn to get along. Let’s just agree to disagree.”
Well, how is that approach working out for us? Have you watched the news lately? When was the last time you saw the media and the politicians “get along”? Yeah, right!
The truth is: “truth matters”. And when we jettison truth, we jettison any hope of ever becoming “one nation under God”. This is the way that Satan works. Divide and conquer. And now, Satan, the father of lies, has America – and the world – on the ropes.
So, let’s end this writing with some facts about the only cure and the only hope for the survival of our divided nation.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31 – 32
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:36 – 37
The Bible says, “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7 – 12
Truth matters! What you believe matters! Planet earth is a battlefield in the war between good and evil – in the war between truth and lies – in the war between Jesus (who is the truth) and Satan (who is the father of lies).
On the night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus prayed for his disciples, “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
So, now what?
God has currently put our planet on lockdown. And, there appears to be a very good reason for God to have imposed this lockdown. We need a “time out” so that we can investigate the facts and then thoughtfully decide where each of us wants to spend eternity. Never before, and probably never again, will we have the time: to stay at home; to receive money from the government with which to buy food; and, to be able to open and read the New Testament of the Bible without having the interruptions and distractions of our daily lives.
No human being or group of human beings could create this scenario. Only an all-powerful loving God can give us the “time-out” which we desperately need if we are going to make the right decisions for the future of our nation and for our personal eternal futures in either heaven or hell.
Please, I beg of you, in the name and in the love of God and His Son Christ Jesus, turn off the news! Use the radio, internet, and television to listen to the Bible teaching which is available there. Likewise, open the Bible and begin to read and study the New Testament writings. If you approach the reading of the Scriptures with a teachable mind, you will be amazed at how the Bible will equip you to make wise decisions in your everyday life.
For what ever reason, neither the media nor our political leaders seem to have any interest in pursuing the truth that can unify our nation. Instead, it appears that their only goal is to divide our nation by promoting differing versions of “the truth”.
On the other hand, the Bible is a book which teaches love and unity. Therefore, it makes better sense to read and follow the teaching of the Bible than it does to give our attention to the divisive fear and hatred which is promoted by the media.
The Bible says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31 – 32
There is a saying in the computer programming industry: “Garbage In. Garbage Out.” The same statement is true for humans. Turn off the media. Quit taking in the garbage of the editorial and personal opinions of the news media and the politicians. Use this God-given “time-out” to tune into Christ and His Word. You will be glad that you did.
“Then you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
You think about that. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Nick
© 2020 Nicholas J. Cook
Barb Gibel says
Nick, Thank you for this amazing letter that is much needed in this difficult time for our country. I believe God is allowing this pandemic to happen and my prayer is that it will lead His people to make a difference. How can we become truly one country under God and love one another? Your direction to spend more time in His Word is our guide.
May God bless you, Susan & the girls & their families
Vicki Vaji says
I believe this COVID-19 is happening because God loves us and we need to get back to the basic of FAMILY. We have become a world of Technology, self center Me and only Me and money but our God is giving us a chance to redeem ourselves by spending time with him, family and Gods Word(Bible). We need to fine the real meaning of LOVE again. Love the Lord our God with all are heart, mind and soul and love our neighbor as yourself. God is taking care of us by slowing us down and giving us a chance to get into his word. What we do with this time will be up to each of us. I plan on making sure I do get into God,s word and pray for each other and myself during this time. But also to let God know how Thankful I am for his LOVE.
Geri ternitsky says
This is the first Palm Sunday of my life that I will not be in church but Dan and I will be watching the livestream. I so enjoyed your letter, Pastor Nick. If only those who have bought into Satan’s lies and deceit would listen to those of us who know the truth. All we can do is keep trying. His Word will not come back void. Every time we try to get through to them is another link in the chain on the way to their salvation. God bless you, Pastor Nick.
Dave Townsend says
I am totally in agreement with everything you have written Nick! Now that I totally agree with you as I’m sure many others have, my prayer would be that we all head your God-given advice!
Sandy thorpe says
Pastor Nick, I am so blessed to have this letter as well as all the support from the church by way of the website. It has been a real encouragement to our family. Thank you and prayers are lifted for you, your family and all the church family involved in the various ministries. God Bless you.
Ken Firestone says
I am struggling with the idea that “a Christian cannot support the Democratic Platform” which supports, as far as I can determine, unBiblical and unChristian ideas. Can one be a Christian and support the liberal ideas espoused in that platform? Some say that if Biden won then that is God’s Will. I have a problem with that as it would seem to contradict His Word. It would make God a liar. He can’t lie. Now, I do believe if we make the wrong choices and elect the wrong people into office then return to God and repent that He will restore us, but it isn’t His Will for us to make the wrong decisions in the first place.
It appears to me that ministers, and church leaders and church members (Christians all), have caved in to the world. Not all Christians, as there is always a remnant but the church is definitely infiltrated and those leaders who do not make the issues clear are falling short.
Thanks for listening, and if you can tell me where I am right and wrong I will pray about it.
Justin Quinn says
Ken, please check your Gmail inbox for a response from Pastor Nick.