I assume that you have seen Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf your TV screen with a black military beret on his head. All the way to the end, Iraq’s information minister flatly denied that the coalition forces were taking over Baghdad.

    According to CNN, Sahaf continued to boast to the world that the invaders were being slaughtered. He told reporters: “The infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds on the gates of Baghdad,” Sahaf denied that coalition troops have gained control of the airport and presidential palace.

    Who did he think he was kidding? Surely Sahaf didn’t believe the news reports he gave. Did he think that Americans would believe him and give up? Did he think that the people of Iraq would believe him and fight harder? With Baghdad falling all around him, how could Sahaf expect to convince anyone with his brazen lies?

    Today as I was reflecting on Sahaf’s farce I remembered what the Bible tells us about the enemy you and I face everyday in our spiritual warfare.

    The devil knows that he has already lost the war. In Revelation 12:12 the Bible says: “He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”

    The devil uses what time he has left to tell us: “Come on over to the dark side! Everything is great! We’re all doing fine!”

    He tries to convince that sin is beautiful. He gives glowing reports of all the fun we will have if we will join up with him. The devil entices us to believe his lies and tries to persuade us to give up on our desire to serve the Lord.

    You would think that we would wise up. After all, we only need to look around to see all the destruction that his lies have already caused: lives ruined by alcohol and drugs, families torn apart because of adultery and selfishness, greed wreaking havoc in the workplace. The list could go on and on. It should be obvious to all of us that the devil is a big, fat liar.

Our adversary, the father of lies, keeps spinning his webs of deceit.

    Yet our adversary, the father of lies, keeps spinning his webs of deceit. He tells his lies, just like Sahaf, as if he really believed them. Sadly many times he succeeds in convincing us as well.

    Isn’t it time you and I came to our senses? I wouldn’t want to be in Baghdad now. And I don’t want to be in the devil’s palace when the Lord says “Time’s up!” and the final curtain is drawn. The wages of sin is death: has been and always will be.

    The Lamb of God offers us a better alternative. He is the way and the truth and the life. If we follow Him, He will lead us to the Father and our eternal reward.

    Every day we are involved in a spiritual warfare to see who will conquer our hearts and our minds. It is up to you and me whether we will believe the devil and his lies, or the word of truth that comes from our heavenly Father. When you look at it that way, it seems clear as day, doesn’t it?

Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to do so! For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! (John 8:42-45)