The goal of competition is comparison. Whether it’s the World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Championship, March Madness, Fine Arts, NASCAR, or a thousand other types of contests, the conclusion is to show which team, group, or individual is better than everyone else.

Competition can make things better.

Years ago, there was only one telephone service in the United States, the Bell Telephone Company, later known as the Bell System, co-founded by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, commonly referred to as “Ma Bell.”  A few years later, after Bell’s original patents expired, the company became known as American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T). The service was limited; the operators were cold, indifferent, and rude. No one had any other choice but to tolerate their unprofessional behavior, because AT&T was the only telephone company. Their company motto was “One System, One Policy.” At the turn of the century, smaller independent companies began to emerge. AT&T quickly purchased them to squelch competition.  

In 1984, the federal government, by court order, broke up AT&T's monopoly on the nation’s phone system. With the breakup of AT&T, “Baby Bells,” as they were called, smaller branches of the former monopoly emerged, marking the beginning of the trend toward deregulation.  

Competition made service better. Operators were instructed to be polite and provide prompt, pleasant assistance to callers who needed help. After the monopoly was dissolved, technicians would say, “May I be of any other assistance? Thank you for using AT&T.”  

Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

In 1973, there was a dog food commercial that boastfully marketed a comparison. The jingle went like this: “My dog’s better than your dog, my dog’s better than yours, my dog’s better ‘cause he gets Ken L Ration, my dog’s better than yours” The premise of this advertisement is at the root of man’s discontent: I am not going to give bragging rights to you about your dog, mine can be just as good if not better than yours!

We are always looking around and trying to get one up on the next guy.  How often do we use what we have to taunt and berate others? There’s an old phrase that was popularized to identify our tendency to be discontented.  "Keeping up with the Joneses" is an idiom that refers to the social pressure to match or surpass one's neighbors or peers in terms of material possessions, social status, and lifestyle.

Unfortunately, such comparisons can lead to a life that does not please God. When we start to look around for someone who is in more sin or what we might categorize as a more serious sin, we can assume that we are doing better and “not so bad.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 says, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

Satan would desire that we measure our worth by comparing ourselves to other sinful creatures. He can deceive us into believing that we are in good spiritual standing with God since we are not as sinful as others. We have learned to “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” of Christianity. As long as we can rationalize our sinful choices and declare that we are in control of our sinful submission, we are self-assured of God’s favor.

Believing we are right with God because we are better than someone else is really the grand illusion. Being convinced that being “good enough” can lead to spiritual stagnation and plateauing, it dwarfs our spiritual growth. It is cunning trickery from the one who desires to undo God’s design for the believer’s sanctification.

Jesus’s disciples were not immune to the tendency for self-aggrandizement.  James and John, the sons of Zebedee, named by Jesus, Boanerges -- the sons of thunder because of their fiery and bold temperament, approached Jesus and asked to sit in places of highest honor in Heaven (Luke 22:24-30). When the other disciples learned of this request, they argued about who among them would be considered the greatest.

In Luke chapter nine, the Bible records a separate occasion where the disciples had a more general dispute among themselves, arguing about who was the most important. Jesus draws his disciples together to teach them that they should not seek prestige and authority, but rather servitude. Their comparison led to an unhealthy competition based on pride.

Key factors to guard against Satan’s Grand Illusion:

Study and reflection

• Read the Bible: Study about Jesus's life, actions, and teachings, and reflect on how to apply them to your life daily.
• Apply Biblical teachings: Don't just gain knowledge; let the scriptures change your decisions and actions.
• Embrace a Christ-like attitude: Cultivate humility, gentleness, selflessness, and patience.

Love and service

• Love God: Love God with all your heart, mind, and strength.
• Love others: let Godly love flow into how you treat everyone around you.
• Show compassion: Forgive others as Jesus forgave and be kind and considerate in your interactions.

Spiritual disciplines and practices

• Pray consistently: Develop a personal relationship with your Abba Father.
• Seek God's help: Recognize that you cannot do this alone, let Christ be your strength (Phil. 4:13).
• Be obedient: follow God's commands and convictions, understanding that this is a core part of discipleship.

Character and growth

• Embrace humility: Choose humility and deal with pride and boastfulness.
• Be patient: Recognize that becoming like Christ is a journey with setbacks.
• Be persevering. Don't get discouraged, but keep striving to follow His example.
• Let your passion be to please God: make decisions that exemplify His principles.

Final Thoughts:

His grand illusion has been his false accusations that veer mankind away from a vibrant relationship with God.

• He has led us to believe that God withholds good things from us. This is a direct echo of the lie told to Eve in the garden. Satan suggests God is a restricting, uncaring figure who prevents people from having what they truly desire.
• He convinces us to trust in the deity of self.  Satan encourages self-reliance and the belief that humanity can decide what is right and wrong on its own, instead of relying on God's provision and wisdom.
• He has told us that the love of money brings happiness. This lie promises fulfillment through materialism, causing people to focus on acquiring possessions rather than on their relationship with God.
• He preaches that there are no consequences for sin.  Satan deceives people into thinking that sin is acceptable, or that there will be no future consequences for their actions, so long as they feel good in the moment.
• If he can get us to believe that Hell is not real.  We will fall for the illusion that distracts from eternal consequences, so that we dedicate our focus only to their present life.
• Ultimately, he aims to lead us into despair by promoting the notion that forgiveness is impossible.  At the other end of the spectrum, Satan tells people they are beyond forgiveness, leading them into bitterness and hopelessness.

Satan's grand illusion refers to his multi-faceted strategy of deception and false appearances to lead humanity away from God. As the "father of lies" (John 8:44) and a "master illusionist," Satan's most effective skill is not brute force, but subtle manipulation. He makes falsehood appear to be truth and sin seem attractive, convincing people to believe in lies that serve his purpose in the Grand Illusion.