February 17, 1909

The Enmity

EGW

When Satan swerved from his allegiance, and, with the angels who sympathized with him, was cast out of heaven, he became the avowed enemy of God. He planted his standard on the earth, and established a rival empire, in which all the powers of evil combined to oppose the influence of God. Actuated by intense hatred for the God he had dishonored, he left no means untried to attract men to himself and conform them to his nature.ST February 17, 1909, par. 1

The long-suffering of God had been waiting the development of Satan's revolt. The Creator would test man to see if he would accept the lie of Satan in place of the truth of God. The restriction placed upon man was one which, if respected, would not deprive him of a single blessing. All the angels of heaven were prepared to come to the aid of Adam and Eve in this contest with the enemy, if they would call upon God for help. An intense interest prevailed in the heavenly courts in this trial of man's obedience, and sadness reigned when Eve, yielding to the persuasion of the serpent, partook of the forbidden fruit. The golden chain which had hitherto bound the human family to the divine, was broken, to be united again only through the power of One stronger than the destroyer.ST February 17, 1909, par. 2

By the awful event of man's fall, it was Satan's purpose to make of the beautiful world God had created, a home of sin and woe. He designed to set the human race in rebellion and hostility against their Maker. But he was not left free to drag them down without divine interposition. The holy pair had fallen, and henceforth the earth must be marred by the curse of sin; but through the gift of the only-begotten Son of God, earth was to be restored to its Edenic purity and beauty, and man renewed in the image of God.ST February 17, 1909, par. 3

“I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” The divine sentence pronounced against Satan after the fall of man, was also a prophecy, embracing all the ages to the close of time, and foreshadowing the great conflict to engage all the races of men who should live on the earth.ST February 17, 1909, par. 4

Satan tempted man to sin, as he had caused angels to rebel, that he might thus secure cooperation in his warfare against heaven. There was no dissension between himself and the fallen angels as regards their hatred of Christ; while on all other points there was discord, they were firmly united in opposing the authority of the Ruler of the universe. But when Satan heard the declaration that enmity should exist between himself and the woman, and between his seed and her seed, he knew that his efforts to deprave human nature would be interrupted; that by some means man was to be enabled to resist his power.ST February 17, 1909, par. 5

Satan's enmity against the human race is kindled, because, through Christ, they are the objects of God's love and mercy. He desires to thwart the divine plan for man's redemption, to cast dishonor upon God, by defacing and defiling His handiwork; he would cause grief in heaven, and fill the earth with woe and desolation. And he points to all this evil as the result of God's work in creating man.ST February 17, 1909, par. 6

It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul which creates in man enmity against Satan. Without this converting grace and renewing power, man would continue the captive of Satan, a servant ever ready to do his bidding. But the new principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto had been peace. The power which Christ imparts enables man to resist the tyrant and usurper. Whoever is seen to abhor sin instead of loving it, whoever resists and conquers those passions that have held sway within, displays the operation of a principle wholly from above.ST February 17, 1909, par. 7

Satan triumphs in his knowledge and skill and his power to deceive. He does not come to every soul alike. He modulates his arts to those whom he desires to deceive. Often he comes to men clothed in the garments of righteousness. Under some seemingly good and merciful deed he conceals for a time his real character, and thus often gains the allegiance of those who had they been living in watchful and prayerful communion with heaven, would not have been overcome. The warning comes to all who would successfully meet the power of the enemy, “Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”ST February 17, 1909, par. 8

After the fall God saw that man had no power within himself to keep from sin, and provision was made whereby he could have help. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” One wonderful in counsel was our Helper. The Son of God left the heavenly courts and gave His life as the propitiation for sin. He came to declare that altho the agencies of evil had created rebellion in heaven, and sin had entered the universe of God, yet Christ and the Father would redeem the fallen race. Laying aside His kingly crown and royal robe, He gave Himself to the human family, to pass through test and trial and thus demonstrate to every son and daughter of Adam that it is possible through faith in Him to resist the devices of Satan. Tempted in all points as man is tempted, Christ overcame through the power of divinity. He seeks to teach men and women that they may overcome through the same power.ST February 17, 1909, par. 9

Mighty issues for the world were at stake in the conflict between the Prince of Light and the leader of the kingdom of darkness. After tempting man to sin, Satan claimed the earth as his, and styled himself the prince of this world. Having conformed to his own nature the father and mother of our race, he thought to establish here his empire. He declared that men had chosen him as their sovereign. Through his control of men, he held dominion over the world. Christ had come to disprove Satan's claim. As the Son of Man, Christ would stand loyal to God. Thus it would be shown that Satan had not gained complete control of the human race, and that his claim to the world was false. All who desired deliverance from his power would be set free.ST February 17, 1909, par. 10

Ever since the time that man aspired to be as God, and fell through Satan's deceiving power, there has been a controversy between man and his Maker—a determination on the part of man to gain an independence wholly opposed to the life and lessons of Christ. Christians are to lay this struggle for independence on God's altar. Until we do this, God can not imbue us with His Spirit. All self-sufficiency is to be given up. The will is to be wholly yielded to God's will. He who is truly seeking for help from on high will welcome the assistance and counsel that God sends, whatever means He may employ to give His directions.ST February 17, 1909, par. 11

In giving His only-begotten Son to live in our world and to be subject to temptation, the Father has made ample provision that we should not be taken captive by the enemy. Meeting the foe, Christ overcame in behalf of humanity. By a study of His experience we are to learn to discern the temptations of Satan, and in the strength of God's grace, to overcome. Through the imparted merits of Christ, he who was once a sinful human being may be refined and purified, and stand before his fellow men as a laborer together with God. To the earnest seeker after God the divine nature will surely be imparted. The compassion of Christ will certainly be vouchsafed.ST February 17, 1909, par. 12