Don't Give in to False Advertising

My daughter is at the coffee shop age. Whether it means hanging out with friends or grabbing a crafted beverage through the drive-through, visiting a certain coffee chain is always on her to-do list.

Recently, she saw an advertisement for a new drink and couldn’t wait to try it out. She described it to me—cold brew coffee topped with lightly sweetened cold foam and a drizzle of vanilla. I finally caved and took her for the long-awaited drink.

Her eyes sparkled as she took in the jet-black liquid juxtaposed with the dense, white cloud of cream. Then she took a sip and sputtered a little. She wasn’t prepared for the bitter bite of the cold brew. I let her stir and sip a few times before suggesting she sweeten it, and maybe add some cream. It took a few tweaks to get it sweet and smooth enough to tolerate.

On the ride home, she confessed her disappointment. With dark coffee poured over ice cubes, topped with foam and glistening vanilla syrup, the video advertisement had made this drink look like a decadent treat. The description sweetened the offer even more with phrases like “luscious maple syrup.” After all the hype, her mouth expected a sweet treat. Instead, she got a bitter shock.

What Satan Does

That’s how the lure of sin works in our lives. Satan presents a temptation to us like a coffee chain advertisement. He makes even the forbidden look and sound good. Sometimes his pitch is so effective that we can almost taste it. We exchange what we know to be true for the lies he presents.

Eve experienced this in the garden. God outlined specific instructions about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, telling Adam and Eve to eat from any tree but that one. Then Satan slithered right up to Eve and made his sales pitch: “‘God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Genesis 3:5 NIV). He presented all the benefits without any of the risks.

The crafty serpent was effective: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it” (Genesis 3:6 NIV). Eve succumbed to the first advertisement campaign, and we’ve been following in her footsteps ever since.

Temptation is like an ad campaign straight from hell. Satan twists evil until it’s not just palatable; it’s desirable. Consider these examples in Scripture:

Samson is lulled into submission by beautiful but wicked Delilah.
David falls for the lie that says a night with Bathsheba is without consequences.
Judas believes thirty pieces of silver is worth betrayal.

A Way Out

Real-life examples are all around us: Innocent friendships devolving toward infidelity. Positions of power exploited for personal gain. A glass or two of wine to unwind becomes a nightly necessity. Name the sin, and you can trace it back to false advertisement.

This won’t hurt anyone.
It will be worth it.
You’ll feel better.

First Corinthians 10:13 says, however, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (NIV). When Satan’s lies begin to toy with our minds and emotions, we don’t have to give in. We have a way out.

The Truth, Friends, and Prayer

The best defense against temptation’s false advertising is the truth. We find truth in the pages of God’s Word. Jesus addressed Satan’s temptations in the desert with quotes from Scripture (see Luke 4:1–14). When we fill our minds with biblical wisdom, we begin to see Satan’s craftiness for what it is: lies contrary to God’s truth.

Sometimes a friend is our way out. Confessing our struggles with temptation releases the power it has on us. When we invite a friend to keep us accountable, the Enemy loses his audience with us.

Prayer is a trusted defense during times of temptation. Jesus instructed his disciples to pray during a vulnerable time: “‘Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak’” (Mark 14:38 NLT). God doesn’t accuse us when we go to him for strength during temptation; he provides a way out when we ask.

It’s easy to give in to the alluring advertisements Satan produces. However, if we seek wisdom from God’s Word and share our struggles with him and friends, we can stand firm.

Kelly Smith is a small town girl who married a small town man. They have three children. In the quiet minutes of her day, you will find her at the keyboard or curled up with a book–always with coffee. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.