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The Desire of Ages
that they will acknowledge his supremacy. He requires that they
sacrifice integrity, disregard conscience, indulge selfishness. Christ
bids them seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; but
Satan walks by their side and says: Whatever may be true in regard to
life eternal, in order to make a success in this world you must serve
me. I hold your welfare in my hands. I can give you riches, pleasures,
honor, and happiness. Hearken to my counsel. Do not allow yourselves
to be carried away with whimsical notions of honesty or self-sacrifice.
I will prepare the way before you. Thus multitudes are deceived. They
consent to live for the service of self, and Satan is satisfied. While he
allures them with the hope of worldly dominion, he gains dominion
over the soul. But he offers that which is not his to bestow, and which
is soon to be wrested from him. In return he beguiles them of their
title to the inheritance of the sons of God.
Satan had questioned whether Jesus was the Son of God. In his
summary dismissal he had proof that he could not gainsay. Divinity
flashed through suffering humanity. Satan had no power to resist
the command. Writhing with humiliation and rage, he was forced to
withdraw from the presence of the world’s Redeemer. Christ’s victory
was as complete as had been the failure of Adam.
So we may resist temptation, and force Satan to depart from us.
Jesus gained the victory through submission and faith in God, and by
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the apostle He says to us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will
draw nigh to you.”
James 4:7, 8
. We cannot save ourselves from the
tempter’s power; he has conquered humanity, and when we try to stand
in our own strength, we shall become a prey to his devices; but “the
name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and
is safe.”
Proverbs 18:10
. Satan trembles and flees before the weakest
soul who finds refuge in that mighty name.
After the foe had departed, Jesus fell exhausted to the earth, with
the pallor of death upon His face. The angels of heaven had watched
the conflict, beholding their loved Commander as He passed through
inexpressible suffering to make a way of escape for us. He had endured
the test, greater than we shall ever be called to endure. The angels
now ministered to the Son of God as He lay like one dying. He was
strengthened with food, comforted with the message of His Father’s
love and the assurance that all heaven triumphed in His victory. Warm-