zation must be advanced, not by supressing and de grading, but by stimulating and perfecting the in dividual. Christ taught that the redemption of the world must be effected through the greater power, the Divine power of God’s Word— by the Holy Spirit and the right example, and not through channels of tem poral power. He chose persuasion, not compulsion.” The choice lies between all-powerful government and the Almighty God. “ No man can serve two mas ters.” Let us put faith in an omniscient God, not in omnipotent government. In Heaven itself, peaceful co-existence was im possible — between a self-vaunted Lucifer and the Creator. Through Isaiah the Lord speaks: “ How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morn ing! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God . . . I will be like the most high. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isa. 14:12, 13, 15). Pride, self-seeking, and sin, could not exist in Heaven with humility, holiness and love. Lucifer was cast out. There could be no peaceful co-existence. In the Garden of Eden there first existed a per fect relationship between man and God. Righteous ness reigned until the fallen Lucifer (Satan) invaded the pristine place of unmarred man’s first abode. He instigated rebellion against God and disobedience to His holy will. The fallen Adam and Eve were driven from the gorgeous garden and the curse fell upon the earth. It was declared that from henceforth there would be enmity, strife, and division because of sin. Evil and righteousness would be at war. The seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. Satan would be attacking God, but God through a Virgin- born-Son, ultimately would prevail. There could be no peaceful co-existence of the two. One must be destroyed! This victorious Messiah would come from a na tion of which Abraham would be the first. In the course of the history of that people they found them selves in the land of Egypt. Joseph followed Isaac and Jacob. Moses was raised up of God to lead the displaced nation back to the Palestinian Promised Land. Why must this nation of over 2 million return? Peaceful co-existence was impossible. The taskmas ters had become harder, the rigors of serfdom un- DECEMBER, 1970
bearable. The idolatrous Egyptians of the 17th cen tury B.C. and the God-fearing chosen people found that their ideologies were opposite, their principles incompatible. The Passover was offered, the Red Sea opened and the Israelites became itinerants in the wilderness. God delivered them by the same miracle with which He destroyed the armies of their enemies in the Red Sea. In Daniel’s day Babylon was in the ascendancy and Nebuchadnezzar the dictator. The decree went out that all should bow down and worship his statue. The children of God respectfully refused. They found peaceful co-existence impossible — on their terms. The sentence of execution was to be carried out in a furnace of fire. Hear the calm deliberate decision of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: “ 0 Nebuchad nezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hands, 0 king. But if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). History tells of their miraculous deliverance; but reports no compromising position. God honors those who practice no appease ment, those who refuse to settle down complacently with any hellish degenerated political system. Daniel himself went to the lion’s den rather than forsake his life-line of prayer. When Jesus Christ came to save sinners, He taught that there was no agreement between light and darkness, freedom and tyranny, the Son of God and Satan. On the human level, evil co-existence with good always destroys the good. A rotten apple co existing with a good apple will always destroy both. Jesus said, “ If . . . the light that is in thee be dark ness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:23). On the Divine level, it is true that the “ gates of hell shall not prevail against" the Christ-founded, true Church. Nevertheless, we are taught not to have fel lowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. The church should embrace revival and turn from its worldly pursuits. It should preach righteousness and expose evil. Sinners should be given the opportunity to repent and be converted. “ Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Tim. 2:19). Peter put it this way: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at 27
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