Chapter 42—Presumption
There are those who have a reckless spirit, which they term courage
and bravery. They needlessly place themselves in scenes of danger
and peril, thus exposing themselves to temptations out of which it
would require a miracle of God to bring them unharmed and untainted.
Satan’s temptation to the Saviour of the world to cast Himself from
the pinnacle of the temple was firmly met and resisted. Satan quoted
a promise of God as security that Christ might with safety do this on
the strength of the promise. Christ met the temptation with scripture:
“It is written, ... Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” The only
safe course for Christians is to repulse the enemy with God’s word.
Satan urges men into places where God does not require them to go,
and presents scripture to justify his suggestions.
God’s precious promises are not given to strengthen man in a
presumptuous course or for him to rely upon when he rushes needlessly
into danger. The Lord requires us to move with a humble dependence
upon His providence. “It is not in man that walketh to direct his
steps.” In God is our prosperity and our life. Nothing can be done
prosperously without the permission and blessing of God. He can
set His hand to prosper and bless, or He can turn His hand against
us. “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall
bring it to pass.” We are required, as children of God, to maintain a
consistent Christian character. We should exercise prudence, caution,
and humility, and walk circumspectly toward them that are without.
Yet we are not in any case to surrender principle.
Our only safety is in giving no place to the devil, for his suggestions
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and purposes are ever to injure us and hinder us from relying upon God.
He transforms himself into an angel of purity that he may, through his
specious temptations, introduce his devices in such a manner that we
may not discern his wiles. The more we yield, the more powerful will
be his deceptions over us. It is unsafe to enter into controversy or to
parley with him. For every advantage that we give the enemy, he will
claim more. Our only safety is in rejecting firmly the first approach to
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