Beware Satan’s Tricks: How to Lean Into God’s Righteousness

Be warned: Satan is still up to his old tricks.

He will use anything he can to deceive us, including insecurities, feelings of low self-worth, fears, failures, regrets and disappointments. His goal is to separate us from walking in the fullness of God’s plan. Remember, “lest Satan should take advantage of us; …we [should not be] ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Satan knows how we see ourselves is a key element to our relationship with God. His goal is to get us to re-think whether we are truly worthy to walk closely with the God of the universe. Our struggles always boil down to how we view ourselves, because our self-image always has a greater impact on our lives than how we view God.

His Righteousness

So what is this righteousness God has supposedly established us in? In Ephesians 4:24, the Apostle Paul explained how the new man in Christ was “created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (emphasis added). I love this statement because it indicates this was God’s idea. Righteousness (our right-standing with God) was never a plan devised by man; it was the forethought of our Heavenly Father. Psalm 11:7 says, “For the lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.” In another place, the Bible says, “He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness” (Psalm 9:8). No wonder King David prayed, “lead me, o lord, in your righteousness” (Psalm 5:8).

It seems that just as 2+2 = 4, righteousness is the sum of God’s desire and God’s direction for our lives. If we will allow it to lead and direct us, then we can rest assured we are in the center of God’s will. I believe this is what you and every other Christian desires. God never intended for any of us to live on a roller coaster of doubt and insecurity. Consider these words from the prophet Isaiah: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: [saying] ‘Prepare the way of the lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth” (Isaiah 40:3-4). Sounds like non-roller-coaster living to me!

Of course, we now understand Isaiah was speaking in these prophetic words of John the Baptist who became the voice crying out to prepare the way for Jesus. But what path was he speaking of? What task was laid out before Jesus? The Bible says Jesus would become sin, “that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). John the Baptist was essentially declaring, “Prepare the way for righteousness!” And the result of this coming of righteousness? “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth.”

Watch Your Step

So the righteousness God created and prepared for mankind was brought through Jesus. The psalmist said of the coming Messiah, “Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway” (Psalm 85:13). This is why Jesus declared, “I am the way” (John 14:6).

We could liken this picture to a minefield. If it were necessary for us to cross a certain plot of land to reach our destination, yet we knew the land was covered with deadly mines, it would be wise for us to follow the footsteps of one who had safely crossed to the other side. Righteousness has made His footsteps our pathway. The world can be a dangerous place, but we can safely maneuver through it by walking in the path of righteousness.

Purely by definition, righteousness is right-standing with God, including the ability to stand before Him without guilt or inferiority, as if you had never sinned. Righteousness was given to us at the new birth (when we were born again), and it continues with us as we continue with God. This is why the scripture says that if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive you and cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God didn’t provide righteousness for us just to watch us lose it the first time we fall into sin. But He also didn’t provide it as an excuse or cover-up for us to continue to sin either. Righteousness was provided that we might be forgiven and cleansed from our sin, in order to bring us into the presence and fellowship of God. This was God’s plan, and it is still His desire.

The conversations that take place in the book of Job between Job and his friends should remind us to take caution. Job became a little confused on the subject of righteousness, and his misunderstandings are written in God’s Word as a warning and help to us. Job had been defending himself to his friends, some of whom had accused him of wrongdoing. After listening for some time to Job’s rantings, his friend Elihu asked him, “Do you think this is right? Do you say ‘My righteousness is more than God’s?’” (Job 35:2). I don’t think Job set out to be high-minded. He probably just slipped because of deception and ignorance. But if Job misunderstood God’s righteousness, so can we.

If we’ll follow the footsteps of Jesus, learning to stand in the presence of God without guilt and inferiority over our past or pride and high-mindedness because of our good works, our lives will be more than we ever imagined. God remains the same and His provision for us remains unchanged no matter how much time or what sort of circumstances come to pass.

Ultimately, Job’s friend summed up his faith this way: “I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker” (Job 36:3). The word “ascribe” simply means to give credit to something or someone. Elihu understood the provision of righteousness comes by God alone, its originator, and should be received by us, its beneficiaries, gratefully. It’s an indescribable gift with amazing benefits.