The Game of Appeasement

The game of appeasement is an attempt to capture God’s attention by performing extraordinary acts while living a life that does not glorify Him. A striking example is someone claiming to be a committed Christian, working as an accountant, but secretly siphoning small amounts from employees’ paychecks into their own account. Simultaneously, they made significant contributions to the church, believing they were actively participating in God’s work.

In reality, they were only seeking to appease their conscience. This game, where some invest heavily in church service, denounce others’ sins to demonstrate their integrity, or hide condemnable actions while hoping to gain God’s favor, leads only to disappointment. Before God, all motivations and intentions of the heart are laid bare, and nothing can be hidden (Hebrews 4:13).

The Game of the Heir

The game of the heir, or the entitlement game, consists of the belief that, as a child of God, no matter what lifestyle is led in secret, God will accept it. Satan rejoices in injecting this belief, as it opens the door to other deceptive thoughts. The persuaded person becomes convinced they are special, that God will not disapprove of their life, and that sins will have no consequences. They believe they are God’s favorite child, convinced that God needs to use them.

Pride and arrogance then creep in, eliminating the fear of God and prompting the person to think that God needs them more than they need Him. The game of the heir is a deadly trap, especially for those with extraordinary gifts. Samson is a tragic example, having played this game at great cost.

The Game of False Repentance

John the Baptist frequently denounced the false repentances of his time in his ministry. Despite his popularity, he did not compromise his message, urging his listeners to deep repentance that produces tangible fruits in their daily lives. His courage should inspire Christian leaders to guide God’s people similarly.

The game of false repentance is a devilish ruse to mislead you. It involves renouncing sin out of fear of punishment, a repentance that, though seemingly sincere, lacks true motivation. The person may cry, moan, and tremble, but their fear lies in safeguarding their reputation rather than in a genuine fear of God. This superficial repentance, driven by fear of human judgment, does not root itself in Christ but in selfishness.

Often, without immediate consequences, the person falls back into their old way of life. The enemy exploits this game to keep his victims captive in a cycle of guilt, repentance, and lies. By targeting the fear of losing reputation or honor, he wants believers not to rely on Christ. If repentance is based on fear of earthly consequences rather than God’s view, it will not be authentic.

True repentance stems from understanding how our actions grieve God’s heart. Peter provides an example after denying Jesus, sincerely responding to Jesus who asked him three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:16). It is crucial to understand that true repentance draws its strength from the fact that God is at the center of everything.

If the motivation is self-preservation, despite the tears and regrets, it will not be authentic. The enemy tries to divert you from true repentance by making you fear human consequences. He knows your fall is certain if you resist relying on your own strength. True repentance, guided by God’s perspective, is sincere and deep, aligning our hearts with God’s will.

This text is an excerpt from the book “GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY TO GOD!” written by OMER KABUYA.

We invite you to read the following article “YOU NEED GUARDRAILS.“