We all have a worldview—a set of conscious and subconscious beliefs through which we see and interpret life. Worldview determines how we view God, ourselves, truth, and reality. It colors our understanding of history and shapes our values. When we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit begins to transform our worldview—removing beliefs contrary to truth and instilling convictions that align with God’s will and Word. This transformative journey is guided by three truths about God.
Truth #1: God is good. The first lie Satan persuaded Adam and Eve to accept was “God is not good.” He didn’t use those words, probably because they would’ve rejected such a bald-faced lie. Instead, Satan planted doubt in their minds: “Did God actually say …” He then provided the couple with a reason God wasn’t who they thought He was: “God knows that when you eat of [the fruit] of the tree … your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). In essence, Satan said, “God’s holding out on you! How can He be good if He denies you such a valuable gift?”
Satan never has to change his tactics. He still whispers to us, “God’s holding out on you!” That’s why clinging to the truth that God is good is vital. Jesus said, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18).
Truth #2: God loves you. If we begin to doubt God’s goodness, the next step is doubting His love. How could God love us if He withholds good things from us? That’s one reason the Bible often pairs God’s goodness with His love. Many psalmists use the refrain “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (e.g. Psalm 100, 106, 107, 118, 136). The Hebrew word for God’s steadfast, unchanging love—hesed—is used over 250 times in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, John declared, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love” (1 John 4:16). God never changes. Don’t let Satan’s lie—“God doesn’t love you”—detour your faith journey.
Truth #3. God’s plans are best. Because God is good and loves us, we can count on Him to design and implement plans for us that reflect those truths. Satan whispers, “You know best. You can figure life out on your own.” But if we cling to Truth #1 and Truth #2, we’ll reject those lies. Proverbs 3:5–6 gives sound counsel: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Two meanings of the word acknowledge are “to recognize the rights, authority, or status of” and “to express gratitude or obligation for.” If we recognize the authority of our good, loving God and consistently express our gratitude to Him through obedience, we’ll be willing to say, as Jesus did, “Not my will but yours, O God” (Luke 22:42).
So, how is your faith journey going? Are you stumbling along, taking too many detours or encountering too many obstacles? Have you been listening to Satan’s lies rather than clinging to God’s truth? Examine your worldview. Talk to God about any doubts you have. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead the way on your journey from Satan’s lies to God’s truth.