Chapter 29—Satan’s Enmity Against the Law
The very first effort of Satan to overthrow God’s law—undertaken
among the sinless inhabitants of heaven—seemed for a time to be
crowned with success. A vast number of the angels were seduced; but
Satan’s apparent triumph resulted in defeat and loss, separation from
God, and banishment from heaven.
When the conflict was renewed upon the earth, Satan again won a
seeming advantage. By transgression, man became his captive, and
man’s kingdom also was betrayed into the hands of the archrebel. Now
the way seemed open for Satan to establish an independent kingdom,
and to defy the authority of God and His Son. But the plan of salvation
made it possible for man again to be brought into harmony with God,
and to render obedience to His law, and for both man and the earth to
be finally redeemed from the power of the wicked one.
Again Satan was defeated, and again he resorted to deception, in
the hope of converting his defeat into a victory. To stir up rebellion in
the fallen race, he now represented God as unjust in having permitted
man to transgress His law. “Why,” said the artful tempter, “when God
knew what would be the result, did He permit man to be placed on
trial, to sin, and bring in misery and death?” And the children of Adam,
forgetful of the long-suffering mercy that had granted man another
trial, regardless of the amazing, the awful sacrifice which his rebellion
had cost the King of heaven, gave ear to the tempter, and murmured
against the only Being who could save them from the destructive power
of Satan.
There are thousands today echoing the same rebellious complaint
against God. They do not see that to deprive man of the freedom of
choice would be to rob him of his prerogative as an intelligent being,
and make him a mere automaton. It is not God’s purpose to coerce
the will. Man was created a free moral agent. Like the inhabitants of
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all other worlds, he must be subjected to the test of obedience; but he
is never brought into such a position that yielding to evil becomes a
matter of necessity. No temptation or trial is permitted to come to him
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