Presumption
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presumption. God has, through the merits of Christ, given us sufficient
grace to withstand Satan and be more than conquerors. Resistance is
success. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Resistance must
be firm and steadfast. We lose all we gain if we resist today only to
yield tomorrow.
The sin of this age is disregard of God’s express commands. The
power of influence in a wrong direction is very great. Eve had all that
her wants required. There was nothing lacking to make her happy, but
intemperate appetite desired the fruit of the only tree that God had
withheld. She had no need of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, but
she permitted her appetite and curiosity to control her reason. She
was perfectly happy in her Eden home by her husband’s side; but, like
restless modern Eves, she was flattered that there was a higher sphere
than that which God had assigned her. But in attempting to climb
higher than her original position, she fell far below it. This will most
assuredly be the result with the Eves of the present generation if they
neglect to cheerfully take up their daily life duties in accordance with
God’s plan.
There is a work for women that is even more important and ele-
vating than the duties of the king upon his throne. They may mold
the minds of their children and shape their characters so that they may
be useful in this world and that they may become sons and daughters
of God. Their time should be considered too valuable to be passed
in the ballroom or in needless labor. There is enough necessary and
important labor in this world of need and suffering without wasting
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precious moments for ornamentation or display. Daughters of the
heavenly King, members of the royal family, will feel a burden of
responsibility to attain to a higher life, that they may be brought into
close connection with heaven and work in unison with the Redeemer
of the world. Those who are engaged in this work will not be satisfied
with the fashions and follies which absorb the mind and affections of
women in these last days. If they are indeed the daughters of God
they will be partakers of the divine nature. They will be stirred with
deepest pity, as was their divine Redeemer, as they see the corrupting
influences in society. They will be in sympathy with Christ, and in
their sphere, as they have ability and opportunity, will work to save
perishing souls as Christ worked in His exalted sphere for the benefit
of man.