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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
It is Satan’s constant study to keep the minds of men occupied with
those things which will prevent them from obtaining the knowledge
of God. He seeks to keep them dwelling upon what will darken
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the understanding and discourage the soul. We are in a world of
sin and corruption, surrounded by influences that tend to allure or
dishearten the followers of Christ. The Saviour said: “Because iniquity
shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Many fix their eyes
upon the terrible wickedness existing around them, the apostasy and
weakness on every side, and they talk of these things until their hearts
are filled with sadness and doubt. They keep uppermost before the
mind the masterly working of the archdeceiver and dwell upon the
discouraging features of their experience, while they seem to lose
sight of the heavenly Father’s power and His matchless love. All this
is as Satan would have it. It is a mistake to think of the enemy of
righteousness as clothed with so great power, when we dwell so little
upon the love of God and His might. We must talk of the mightiness of
Christ. We are utterly powerless to rescue ourselves from the grasp of
Satan; but God has appointed a way of escape. The Son of the Highest
has strength to fight the battle for us, and “through Him that loved us”
we may come off “more than conquerors.”
There is no spiritual strength for us in constantly brooding over
our weakness and backslidings, and bemoaning the power of Satan.
This great truth must be established as a living principle in our minds
and hearts—the efficacy of the offering made for us; that God can and
does save to the uttermost all who come unto Him complying with
the conditions specified in His word. Our work is to place our will on
the side of God’s will. Then, through the blood of the atonement, we
become partakers of the divine nature; through Christ we are children
of God, and we have the assurance that God loves us even as He loved
His Son. We are one with Jesus. We walk where Christ leads the way;
He has power to dispel the dark shadows which Satan casts across our
path; and, in place of darkness and discouragement, the sunlight of
His glory shines into our hearts.
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Our hope is to be constantly strengthened by the knowledge that
Christ is our righteousness. Let our faith rest upon this foundation,
for it will stand fast forever. Instead of dwelling upon the darkness of
Satan and fearing his power, we should open our hearts to receive light
from Christ and to let it shine forth to the world, declaring that He is