Satan An Accuser of the Brethren
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will not be taken from us. We need never expect that these will be
torn from us violently; we must first show a desire to rid ourselves of
them. We must seek to separate sin from us, relying upon the merits of
the blood of Christ; and then in the day of affliction, when the enemy
presses us, we shall walk among the angels. They will be like a wall of
fire about us; and we shall one day walk with them in the city of God.
When tempted to sin, let us remember that Jesus is pleading for us
in the heavenly sanctuary. When we put away our sins and come to
him in faith, he takes our names in his lips and presents them to his
Father, saying, “I have graven them upon the palms of my hands; I
know them by name.” And the command goes forth to the angels to
protect them. Then in the day of fierce trial he will say, “Come, my
people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee;
hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be
overpast.” What are the chambers in which they are to hide? They are
the protection of Christ and holy angels. The people of God are not at
this time all in one place. They are in different companies, and in all
parts of the earth; and they will be tried singly, not in groups. Every
one must stand the test for himself.
There has never been a time when the people of God have had
greater need to claim his promises than now. Let the hand of faith pass
through the darkness, and grasp the arm of infinite power. While we
speak of the necessity of separating from sin, remember that Christ
came to our world to save sinners, and that “he is able to save them
to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” It is our privilege to
believe that his blood is able to cleanse us from every spot and stain of
sin. We must not limit the power of the Holy One of Israel. He wants
us to come to him just as we are, sinful and polluted. His blood is
efficacious. I entreat you not to grieve his Spirit by continuing in sin.
If you fall under temptation, do not become discouraged. This promise
comes ringing down along the line to our time: “If any man sin, we
have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” I feel
that for this one promise a continual song of thanksgiving ought to go
forth from the lips of mortals. Let us gather up these precious jewels
of promise, and when Satan accuses us of our great sinfulness, and
tempts us to doubt the power of God to save, let us repeat the words of
Christ, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
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