We don’t have to bear the weight of our guilt because the blood of Christ has been shed to cover us! If it hadn’t been shed, we would have no defense. But, if we are not steeped in Gospel truths and preach these truths to ourselves everyday, then we are liable to listen to Satan’s accusations rather than resting in God’s forgiveness. When that happens, we are no longer a threat to the darkness and our light has been hidden under a bushel.

Still half-asleep, I stumble to the kitchen to turn on the Keurig. I hear the boys’ bedroom door open followed by a miniature stampede of pattering feet running my direction. The two youngest stop and look at me, but I’m not prepared for anything but coffee. Immediately, my 5-year-old points at his brother and proceeds to tell me all his morning transgressions: calling people names, not doing his morning chores, and not taking his turn sharing the piano. It’s too early for a trial, but the 5-year-old prosecution won’t rest.

Parents faces these scenarios often. A rule has been broken, a misdeed has occurred, yet the motive of the tattletale certainly isn’t pure. Instead of love seeking to help the disobedient sibling, the tattletale sees the opportunity to inflict pain through the avenue of justice. They did break one of mommy and daddy’s rules, therefore they deserve discipline of some sort and the tattletale is glad to bring this to their parents’ attention. Justice can’t be denied even though I recognize the slimy schemes of the accuser.

The Cosmic Tattletale

In Revelation 12, Satan is referred to as a great dragon who accuses believers before God day and night (vv. 1-10). We see a glimpse of this in Job where Satan goes before God and accuses Job of worshipping for all the wrong reasons. In Zechariah 3, Satan accuses Joshua the high priest by pointing out the filthieness of his garments.

Satan is too crafty to accuse us based on arbitrary laws that have no standing before God. Instead, he accuses us based on God’s law while emphasizing the wages of such sin that God himself has declared. Despite Satan’s hateful motives, we are guilty and stand condemned before God according to His own holiness and justice.

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