Devil -- Christianity; Spiritual life -- Christianity
Some have taken the extreme position of assigning to Satan the material
universe and everything that is in the world to-day; not recognizing the
fact that no material or physical thing is evil of itself. God created
all things good. Satan has created nothing, and his present relation to
the world is only as a permitted usurper who appropriates and devastates
the things of God in the interests of his own ambition. He is the
file-leader in a great and terrible rebellion against the government of
God: but the natural universe, like all the powers of the human mind and
will, belongs primarily to God, the Creator; and by title of
inheritance, they belong also, to the child of God: "therefore let no
man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or
Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to
come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's" (I Cor.
3:21-23). Yet, since Satan is making use of many good things to cover
his evil purpose, the child of God must, for the present, discern the
hidden evil and, in loyalty to his Lord, reject everything that may
further the workings of Satan. The Scripture is very clear on this
point, and discusses one issue as an example of all similar issues. This
discussion in Scripture is of food which of itself is perfectly good,
but may be a means of great harm when associated with the purposes of
evil. The passages are as follows: "Let us not therefore judge one
another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling
block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am
persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself:
but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not
charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not
then your good be evil spoken of: for the kingdom of God is not meat and
drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he
that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved
of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,
and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the
work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who
eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine,
nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made
weak" (Rom. 14: 13-21). "What say I then? that the idol is anything, or
that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? But I say, that
the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and
not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be
partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke
the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He? All things are lawful for
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account