In the Olympics, a bronze medalist is happier than a silver medalist. Logically thinking; a silver medal is better than a bronze medal. Yet, a silver medalist is less happy. Human nature is to celebrate victory. Hence, teams that lose in the semi-final to get a silver medal are not happy, and would have celebrated if they had got a bronze medal in the other semi-finals. Silver medalists considered themselves as losers. Hence, the phenomenon is called counterfactual thinking.
Satan uses this logic as his trap to deceive humans. In the Garden of Eden, Satan portrayed Adam and Eve as losers. They should have been like gods, not just as humans. They should have the knowledge of good and evil or power to declare what is good and evil. (Genesis 3:1-7) This imaginary discontentment (counterfactual thinking) created by Satan in the minds of Adam and Eve worked. They felt they should move up and forgot God had placed them as king or ruler over dominion over the earth. (Genesis 1:28) Now, they aspired to have power to designate what is good or evil and become like god. When they ate the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened not to be wiser, but found themselves naked.
When a sinner comes to Lord Jesus Christ trusting his finished work on the cross of Calvary, he is forgiven, declared righteous, become a child of God and adopted in the family of God with eternal life. (John 1:12; Romans 8:15) However, Satan diverts the believer’s attention to non-essential things of the world, which he portrays as wealth, status, and secret wisdom. People reject the simple gospel to gain prosperity, power, possession, pride (culture, caste, race, face, grace) and prestige which helps them to deceive themselves as gods. They do not realize that they are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:17)
Through Adam and Eve humanity lost its glory, honor and dignity. God has restored them through Lord Jesus Christ. Let not Satan deceive us with counterfactual thoughts that contradicts God’s Word.
Am I grateful for God’s grace and abundant blessings?