Snares of Satan
437
content with that which has been revealed for themselves and their
children.
It is a masterpiece of Satan’s deceptions to keep the minds of men
searching and conjecturing in regard to that which God has not made
known and which He does not intend that we shall understand. It
was thus that Lucifer lost his place in heaven. He became dissatisfied
because all the secrets of God’s purposes were not confided to him,
and he entirely disregarded that which was revealed concerning his
own work in the lofty position assigned him. By arousing the same
discontent in the angels under his command, he caused their fall. Now
he seeks to imbue the minds of men with the same spirit and to lead
them also to disregard the direct commands of God.
Those who are unwilling to accept the plain, cutting truths of
the Bible are continually seeking for pleasing fables that will quiet
the conscience. The less spiritual, self-denying, and humiliating the
doctrines presented, the greater the favor with which they are received.
These persons degrade the intellectual powers to serve their carnal
desires. Too wise in their own conceit to search the Scriptures with
contrition of soul and earnest prayer for divine guidance, they have
no shield from delusion. Satan is ready to supply the heart’s desire,
and he palms off his deceptions in the place of truth. It was thus that
the papacy gained its power over the minds of men; and by rejection
of the truth because it involves a cross, Protestants are following the
same path. All who neglect the word of God to study convenience and
policy, that they may not be at variance with the world, will be left to
receive damnable heresy for religious truth. Every conceivable form
of error will be accepted by those who willfully reject the truth. He
who looks with horror upon one deception will readily receive another.
The apostle Paul, speaking of a class who “received not the love of
the truth, that they might be saved,” declares: “For this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
[524]
in unrighteousness.”
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
. With such a warning
before us it behooves us to be on our guard as to what doctrines we
receive.
Among the most successful agencies of the great deceiver are
the delusive teachings and lying wonders of spiritualism. Disguised
as an angel of light, he spreads his nets where least suspected. If