Josie Humphreys
Nov 11, 2024
Look at the picture of God's character a little closer, what do you see?
How do you see God? Is He close and personal? Is He distant, sitting up in Heaven judging you? Does He live in your heart? Or is He silent? There are many ways people can and do perceive God, but what perception is true?
This is where I turn and seek the answer in the Bible, because then I know it’s correct.
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8 NIV). By definition then, God is love. Love is His character. Love is who God is. But how is love defined? The Bible says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). What a beautiful list of qualities. Love sounds wonderful!
It’s very easy to read this list, think it’s beautiful, and then move on. But have you ever thought of what the opposite list might look like? Why would we want to know that? If you see that God is love, then by knowing both sides, it’s easier to identify what God is not and who the enemy Satan is.
Let’s go straight from the Bible defining God’s qualities of love, and see what the opposite definitions are from the dictionary or thesaurus, to help us paint the picture of who Satan is.
God: Patient
vs.
Satan: agitated, troubled violent.
God: Kind
vs.
Satan: aloof, cruel, harsh, hateful, merciless, nasty, thoughtless, unfeeling, uncompassionate, unsympathetic. (I only chose a few words from a list of 31)
God: Does not envy
vs.
Satan: jealousy, bitterness, hatred, resentment, malice, ill will.
God: Does not boast
vs.
Satan: brag; source of pride, bluster (bullying, intimidation).
God: Is not proud
vs.
Satan: high opinion of one's own dignity, importance, or superiority.
God: Does not dishonor
vs.
Satan: state of shame, disgrace, reproach (strong criticism).
God: Not self-seeking
vs.
Satan: egotistic, boasting, bragging, obsessive, superior.
God: Not easily angered
vs.
Satan: easily maddened, riled (angered).
God: No record of wrongs
vs.
Satan: keeps records of: offense, sin, abuse, crime, evil, error.
God: Does not delight in evil
vs.
Satan: delights in evil: sinful, immoral, corrupt, destructive, vile.
God: Truth
vs.
Satan: falsehood
God: Protects
vs.
Satan: abandon, destroy, harm, ignore, neglect, endanger.
God: Trust
vs.
Satan: disbelief, distrust, doubt.
God: Hopes
vs.
Satan: hopelessness, fear, doubt, distrust, dislike, hatred.
God: Perseveres
vs.
Satan: cease, discontinue, give up, stop.
God: Never fails
vs.
Satan: be unsuccessful, break down, decline, fall.
Here are a few more promises from the Bible to clarify God’s perfect character, in comparison to the corrupt character of Satan.
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him” (2 Samuel 22:31).
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19)
“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” (John 8:44).
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and life to the full” (John 10:10).
God’s character is pretty clear. God is love. He is our refuge and shield if we allow it. God’s way is perfect, and His word is flawless. God cannot lie. God acts on His promises. He does not flip-flop and change his mind. God is life and wants to give us life to the full.
God is amazing and only wants the best for us! Do you choose to believe in God and who He is? I do. I have lived without God and His Word is Truth. The devil only dishes out hate, destruction, pain, lie upon lie, and steals everything good or happy in life.
It really is pretty black-and-white: God gives us life to the full. Satan kills, steals, destroys, and devours us. God’s way may be the narrow path, and have its challenges, but I choose Him. Do you?