December, 1933
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
420
Satan directs no wholesale condemnation of the Bible; on the contrary, there is a word o f praise for its human interest and its literary value. It is, we are told, the result o f the groping o f the human mind after God. In other words, the devil commends it as a human Record, exhibit ing human frailties in its history and its science. Not a whit embarrassed by the fact that all scientific discoveries have corroborated the meticulous accuracy of the Book, “ false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” continue in their blasphemous and unscientific denials o f the infallibility o f Holy Scripture. G od C ame to E arth That God has come to earth is the fourth truth attacked with great vehemence. The devil and his followers admit the existence of a man named Jesus, and even acknowl edge Him to be a great religious Leader; but they assert that He reached the pinnacle of human attainment simply because He was the highest product of evolution—not the Son of God, but the son o f an ape ancestry. G od H as R edeemed M ankind The fifth eternal verity, that God has effected man’s redemption by dying for him on the cross and shedding His blood in expiatory sacrifice, is subjected to a stream of bitter ridicule. That one, even Jesus, could possibly die for the world which, it is felt, did not need any such offering because it was never lost, and that the blood o f this Man of Gqlilee could possibly effect redemption, is made to appear as the height of illogical thinking and absurd credulity. T he P resent S pirit and the C oming C hrist The sixth point o f attack is the great truth that God is even now in the world in the Person o f the Holy Spirit—a definite Personality whose work is to convict the world o f sin, righteousness, and judgment to come. It then becomes easy and inevitable to scoff at the belief in a visible, personal return to earth o f God the Son. Such an occurrence would invalidate all the devil’s claims; it means supernatural interference with world government, and it suggests universal judgment. I f Satan is to retain his stranglehold on man, the latter must not be gripped by fear of punishment for sin. S atan at W ork If the Bible is true, then Satan has power to influence and control the thinking of many “ false apostles” who openly disavow belief in every one o f these cardinal doc trines. How far this control extends, it is difficult to say, but what we see everywhere of apostasy would indicate that it is great. [Continued on page 424]
God’s punishment for this rebellious subject. He was per mitted to exist and organize an age-long war against God and His plans for the world. Following the Satanic revolt, apparently, God decided to create another class of beings from the dust of earth— a lowly origin— on whom He would lavish the love which Satan had spurned, and for whom He planned a destiny, mysterious and sublime. Satan was aware o f this plan and seized the opportunity of once more matching his strength with the power of God. He would wrest man from his Creator. No time was lost, as he proceeded to spoil the handi work o f God. The disobedience and fall of our first par ents were the direct result of the devil’s assault. This dis aster brought ruin to the race, and the penalty o f death was pronounced by God. It would seem as if the archfiend had actually discussed his attempt with God, and that, through some arrangement with God, he would, if man fell a victim to his wiles, become “ prince of this world.” This eminent position would be his until such time as God might unfold a plan of redemption for man. Thus the conflict of the ages began and has continued. Satan has shown himself a desperate, powerful, subtle, re lentless, and malignant foe. He has used every devilish device to bring about human wreckage and to prevent man from profiting from God’s plan o f salvation. It is possible here to mention but a few o f the various stages o f the battle. In Genesis 3 :15, the ultimate doom o f Satan was predicted to come through “ the seed o f the woman.” Satan attempted to prevent the birth of this “ Seed.” Failing, he tried to take Christ’s life on various occasions; he attacked Him in that memorable hour of temptation. All attacks failed, until he nailed Him to the cross. Satan thought, perhaps, that this act spelled defeat for the Son of God. But he changed his mind when Jesus rose from the dead; he discovered his mistake, and that this death was, after all, part o f God’s plan. With the for mation o f the early church, Satan worked desperately to wreck it, by means o f the persecution and death o f all fol lowers o f the lowly Nazarene. When this attempt also failed, he tried seduction, a scheme which did far more damage than did persecution. In ridiculing the truth o f creation, Satan has cleverly managed to throw discredit on the idea of his own exist ence. This elimination o f himself shows diabolical cunning. He knows there must be an explanation for things organic and inorganic; so, in place o f God, he supplies the human mind with his masterpiece, evolution. Notwith standing that this theory is the most colossal hoax ever foisted on a credulous world, he has so managed his cam paign that this false theory has penetrated every depart ment o f human thought. If there is no God, there can be no creation; if no cre ation, evolution is the only alternative; if evolution be true, there is no God required; and thus the vicious circle is complete. G od H as S poken The third great truth, that the Bible is the Word o f God, then became the object o f bitter attack. The devil first attempted to annihilate it from the world, but God was always able to hide one or more copies where even Satan himself could not find them. Seeing the Bible could not be destroyed, Satan then sought to annul its authority, through what is known as higher, or destructive, criticism. This, in its extreme form, affirms that the Bible is a collection o f man’s thoughts about an imaginary God, rather than a revelation from a personal Creator to His creature, man.
Prayer for Discernment By H e le n M il le r L e h m a n
How often, God of Peace, You said to men: “ Be still,” “Fear not,” and “I will give you rest.” We know Your holy words are true, but when Perplexities and troubles come to test, Our boasted faith grows weak, and we are prone To fall before the lash. Today the clouds O f sinister despair and grief have blown Above horizons, and the restless crowds— Bewildered and afraid—in their distress Are crying loudly for a saviour who Can heal their lands, alleviating press O f worry and o f care. O God, the true And false are closely met today, as are The wheat and tares. Make us discerning so Your voice, alone, attracts. This is our prayer! Through all the tempest, Lord, oh make us know That You are God, and there is none beside. In this we rest secure from storm and tide.
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