Scriptural Reference:

"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
John 8:44

"But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black."
Matthew 5:34

"Future faking occurs when someone makes a false promise about the future. This person says they will do something they have no intention of doing."
A Narcissistic Tool

"But Wait there's More!"
Tim Shaw

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, `You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, `You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Genesis 3:1-5

Reflection:
For those who study the Bible they will find that the first promises made to man was not from God but from Satan. He made a suggestion to Eve that she could be just like God. If only she ate the forbidden fruit found at the centre of the garden. His promise was enticing and made Eve to believe she would aspire to become at the same level as God. Perhaps a reflection of Satan's own aspirations that was the cause for his fall from heaven in the first place.

Throughout the Bible we can find God's promises. All of which He has kept. While we can also find Satan's promises. Everyone of them he has broken or corrupted. Humans have been fickle in the way they sway from God to Satan and back again. As if they have very short memories. They tend to quickly look for anything that will protect them while letting them do whatever they want. While God will return and rescue humans after every backsliding action, Satan will turn on those who have left him. Satan will lure the fallen and beguiled with lusty promises. Then when things begin to fall apart, he will turn on them and blame them for the failure. Twisting their minds and making them turn on those close to them.

In John 8:44 we are given a clear description of those who openly follow Satan. How deceitfully these people will openly lie and say anything that will tickle the ears of those who hear them. Their words are from their father, Satan the father of all lies and deceit. As for those who listen to their lies; they are like flies attracted to a bloated carcass of a dead cow. The smell of their own sins draws them closer to the source of their dark desires. And like moths drawn to the flame, they drawn closer and close. Until they are consumed and burnt as an offering to Satan.

Sadly many Christians may be redeemed and saved. Yet they too can fall victim to empty promises and unfulfilled expectations. In Matthew 5:34 we are told not to swear something we can not hold to. To do so weakens our faith and makes us in many ways appear to be no better then the followers of Satan. If we are asked to do something we should acknowledge the request. Then firmly tell the truth. If it is something we can not morally or legally do we should state so clearly. If it is something that would require resources and time we may be poor in we should equally tell the truth and explain what limitations there would be. In any case, we need to be clear that although we may be willing to attempt the promise we may fall short.

"An honest answer is far better than a contrived excuse
MJ Flack

Over time society creates a range of catch phrases. A current one is "Future Fake". A phrase that centres on how a narcissist will create a false. Essentially future faking is a manipulative technique people use to control another person in a relationship to get what they want. Many parents will use this manipulative device to coerce difficult children into complying or obeying. Relying on the child's short memory and easy distraction to soon forget the promise. Many adults have the same mentality. Going from one event or experience to the next. When it comes to Satan and sin, people will become disappointed in a bad outcome to an event. Yet they can be easily distracted by the lure and expectation that things will be better next time. Many women and even men find themselves in a co-dependent relationship Or even in a Stockholm relationship. With the irrational hope that things will somehow be different. If only they comply and stop being difficult. More lies and fake promises and life becomes a entangled blur.

A favourite salesperson was Tim Shaw. I still have one of his first books that portrayed his rise to prominence. Tim would speedily list off the benefits of something he was promoting on TV. As if it was so amazing that it could not be a better deal. Than he would say loudly the words "But wait there's more" and list a few extra quality items or services you could get if only you called the number on your screen within a set time limit. The technique might be called fishing or luring. The bait is the product one the hook. While the tag line is the movement and lively promotion of something special to attract the consumer. Once again, this method of enticing people has been used to lead them to sin. The promise of something special and amazing that is made all the more exciting and appealing by the way it is wrapped and displayed. Let's consider gambling. It has been said that the odds of winning differ between types of gambling activities and it's important to be realistic: 1st division in Gold Lotto (one game): 1 in 8,145,060. Top prize on a poker machine (playing maximum lines): up to 1 in 7,000,000. 1st division in Powerball (one game): 1 in 134,490,400. These are not easy odds. They portray a very low chance of ever winning something exceptional. Let alone winning back even a 10th of all the money spent. Yet the advertising for gambling follows the same emotional plot as Tim Show's tag line. If you play you will have the chance to change your life or make a world of difference in a loved ones life.

There is also the sad truth that easy money can also be easily lost. A short story tell us about Curtis Sharp, Jr., who won a $5 million jackpot in 1982, was a dream come true for the lottery's public relations department. The lottery was facing an image problem, and Sharp seemed like just the person they needed to spread the word that everyday people could turn their lives around by buying a ticket. The money did not make his life better. Instead it created a list of troubles. He left his wife. Married and divorced his next wife. Began drink heavily and spending money faster than he was receiving it. His life was a deadly journey that could have ended in the grave and eternal torment. Yet it has a happy resolve. After a drunk-driving incident, Curtis Sharp, Jr. found God. He stopped drinking, stopped partying, cleaned up his act, and became a minister.

In short, many will make all sorts of promises. Some are well meant. Some are deliberate fake futures while others are hell bent on deception and cruel intent. As Christians we need to be careful of what we may promise to do. As well as careful as to what we are promised from others. In the end analysis, there is only one whom we can place our trust in. God our Father Creator.

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
Whose words are true,
Whose promises are good,
Whose Grace is perfect,
Whose judgement is just.

I Pray to be wary of the world,
The lies and deception,
The empty promises,
The subtle emotional words,
The hook hidden in pleasure.

Prepare me each day,
For the battle and hardship,
For deceitful family and friends,
For the worlds condemnation,
For Satan's plans and attacks.

Amen