IT’S NOT THE DEVIL — IT’S YOU! (CHOOSE WHAT IS RIGHT)

by tumaini lutenta | 27 July 2019 08:46 pm07

 

One of Satan’s most effective deceptions is convincing people that they are never responsible for their own sins. He works tirelessly to shift the blame onto himself, making people believe that he alone is the cause of all human problems.
That’s why when someone commits adultery, they say, “It’s the devil!” When someone steals or kills, again—“The devil made me do it!” But the Bible shows that Satan himself fell without being tempted by anyone. His downfall came from his own heart:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?”Jeremiah 17:9, NKJV

In other words, just like Satan, many people are led astray not by external forces, but by the evil within their own hearts.
Even in Isaiah 14:12–14, we learn how Satan fell by saying in his heart, “I will ascend into heaven… I will be like the Most High.” Pride and rebellion originated within him.

🌿 Sin Is a Choice—Not a Force

Most people blame Satan when they sin, but in reality, they choose sin willingly. Satan didn’t create sin—he only promotes it. The possibility of evil was allowed by God to make free will meaningful. Without the option to disobey, there would be no true obedience.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”Deuteronomy 30:15

God placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Eden not as a trap, but as a symbol of choice. Even if Satan had not tempted Eve, she still had the free will to eat from it. Satan was just a tempter, not the creator of sin.

“Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”James 1:15

The source of sin is the desire in the human heart, not an outside force overpowering someone. Satan takes advantage of the desires that are already within us.

🛑 Personal Accountability on Judgment Day

When someone sins, they are not being forced by Satan. They are making a personal decision to obey the desires of the flesh.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”Galatians 6:7

“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”Romans 14:12

The Bible is clear that we will each stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and give an account of what we have done—not what Satan did through us:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”2 Corinthians 5:10

No one will be able to say, “It wasn’t me—it was Satan!” That excuse will not hold.

“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”John 3:19

People don’t sin because Satan is powerful—they sin because they love darkness more than light.

⚖️ God Rewards and Punishes According to Your Choices

Just as God promises to bless those who choose good, He also warns of curses and judgment upon those who choose evil. This was true even in Eden:

“To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children.’… Then to Adam He said… ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake.’”Genesis 3:16–17

Notice—it wasn’t Satan who cursed Adam and Eve—it was God. Why? Because they made the choice to sin.
In the same way today, when you choose sin, the consequences come from God, not Satan.

“He who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.”Colossians 3:25

🛍️ A Marketplace Analogy: You Choose What You Buy

Life is like walking into a market with two shops—one offers garments of righteousness (white robes), and the other offers garments of sin (darkness). Both shopkeepers invite you in, but only you can decide what to purchase.
If you choose sin and later suffer the consequences, you can’t blame the seller—the decision was yours.

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life…”Deuteronomy 30:19

You are fully responsible for the choices you make.

🧠 People Claim Good Works for Themselves but Blame Evil on Satan

Have you noticed how people take credit when they do good, saying things like, “I just felt like helping that poor person”—yet when they sin, they quickly say, “It was the devil!”?
If we take credit for the good, we must also take responsibility for the bad.

“Be not wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”Proverbs 3:7

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.”Isaiah 1:19–20

God will not judge Satan for your actions—He will judge you. Yes, Satan tempts, but you choose.

🕊️ There Is Hope—Jesus Chose Righteousness

There is one Man who never gave in to sin. Jesus Christ lived in perfect obedience to God and chose good in every situation:

“Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.”Isaiah 7:15

He is the only one who can teach us how to walk in righteousness. He invites all who are weary from sin and burdened by guilt to come to Him:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”Matthew 11:28

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”Matthew 11:29–30

Whatever sin you are bound in—whether it’s sexual immorality, pornography, addiction, gossip, corruption, abortion, fear, or spiritual oppression—Jesus is calling you today. Come to Him as you are, and He will receive you.

💧 Repent and Be Baptized in the Name of Jesus

Repent sincerely—not just in words, but with the commitment to turn away from sin completely. God promises to forgive you:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”1 John 1:9

But don’t stop at repentance. To complete your cleansing, you must obey the Gospel by being baptized—fully immersed in water in the name of Jesus Christ:

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”Acts 2:38

Through baptism, your past sins are washed away, and you are born again in Christ. Then the Holy Spirit will empower you to choose what is right and live a life that pleases God.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”2 Corinthians 5:17

🎺 The Last Days Are Here—Be Ready

We are living in the last days. The trumpet could sound at any moment. Those who belong to Christ will be caught up to meet Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Let’s strive to be among those who are found faithful and ready.

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”Revelation 19:7


🕊️ Will You Choose Light or Darkness?

The message is simple:
Don’t blame Satan. Take responsibility. Choose righteousness. Follow Jesus. Eternal life is in your hands—but only if you choose life.

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”Joshua 24:15


God bless you. Please share this message with others.


 

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Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2019/07/27/51336/