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148
From Heaven With Love
that had so lately glared with the fire of insanity now beamed with
intelligence and overflowed with grateful tears.
The people exclaimed, “What is this? a new teaching! With
authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey
Him.”
Mark 1:27
, RSV.
This man had been fascinated by the pleasures of sin and had
thought to make life a grand carnival. He did not dream of becoming
a terror to the world and the reproach of his family. He thought
his time could be spent in innocent folly. But intemperance and
frivolity perverted his nature, and Satan took absolute control of
him. When he would have sacrificed wealth and pleasure to regain
his lost manhood, he had become helpless in the grasp of the evil
one. Satan had taken possession of all his faculties. When once the
wretched man was in his power, the fiend became relentless in his
cruelty. So with all who yield to evil; the fascinating pleasure of
their early career ends in despair or the madness of a ruined soul.
The same evil spirit controlled the unbelieving Jews, but with
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them he assumed an air of piety. Their condition was more hopeless
than that of the demoniac, for they felt no need of Christ and were
therefore held fast under the power of Satan.
Christ’s personal ministry among men was the time of greatest
activity for the forces of the kingdom of darkness. For ages Satan
had been seeking to control the bodies and souls of men, to bring
upon them sin and suffering; then he had charged all this misery
on God. Jesus was revealing to men the character of God, breaking
Satan’s power, and setting his captives free. Love and power from
heaven were moving the hearts of men, and the prince of evil was
aroused. At every step he contested the work of Christ.
Satan Works Under Disguise
So it will be in the final conflict between righteousness and sin.
While new life and power are descending on the disciples of Christ,
a new life is energizing the agencies of Satan. With subtlety gained
through centuries of conflict, the prince of evil works under disguise,
clothed as an angel of light. Multitudes are “giving heed to seducing
spirits and doctrines of devils.”
1 Timothy 4:1
.