Origin of Evil
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which the infinite Father had bestowed upon His Son, this prince of
angels aspired to power which it was the prerogative of Christ alone to
wield.
All heaven had rejoiced to reflect the Creator’s glory and to show
forth His praise. And while God was thus honored, all had been
peace and gladness. But a note of discord now marred the celestial
harmonies. The service and exaltation of self, contrary to the Creator’s
plan, awakened forebodings of evil in minds to whom God’s glory
was supreme. The heavenly councils pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of
God presented before him the greatness, the goodness, and the justice
of the Creator, and the sacred, unchanging nature of His law. God
Himself had established the order of heaven; and in departing from it,
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Lucifer would dishonor his Maker, and bring ruin upon himself. But
the warning, given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit
of resistance. Lucifer allowed jealousy of Christ to prevail, and he
became the more determined.
Pride in his own glory nourished the desire for supremacy. The
high honors conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as the gift
of God and called forth no gratitude to the Creator. He gloried in his
brightness and exaltation, and aspired to be equal with God. He was
beloved and reverenced by the heavenly host. Angels delighted to
execute his commands, and he was clothed with wisdom and glory
above them all. Yet the Son of God was the acknowledged Sovereign of
heaven, one in power and authority with the Father. In all the councils
of God, Christ was a participant, while Lucifer was not permitted thus
to enter into the divine purposes. “Why,” questioned this mighty angel,
“should Christ have the supremacy? Why is He thus honored above
Lucifer?”
Leaving his place in the immediate presence of God, Lucifer went
forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels. Working with
mysterious secrecy, and for a time concealing his real purpose under
an appearance of reverence for God, he endeavored to excite dissatis-
faction concerning the laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating
that they imposed an unnecessary restraint. Since their natures were
holy, he urged that the angels should obey the dictates of their own
will. He sought to create sympathy for himself by representing that
God had dealt unjustly with him in bestowing supreme honor upon
Christ. He claimed that in aspiring to greater power and honor he was