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260
Royalty and Ruin
Satan Tries to Discourage God’s People
The tempter stands by to accuse them. He points to their filthy
garments, their defective characters, their weakness and folly, their
sins of ingratitude, their unlikeness to Christ, which have dishonored
their Redeemer. He tries to frighten them with the thought that their
case is hopeless. He hopes that they will yield to his temptations
and turn from their loyalty to God.
Satan has an accurate knowledge of the sins he has tempted
God’s people to commit, and he urges his accusations against them.
He declares that they have forfeited divine protection by their sins;
they are as deserving of exclusion from the favor of God as he is.
“Are these,” he says, “to take my place in heaven, and the place of
the angels who united with me? They profess to obey the law of God,
but have they not been lovers of self? Have they not placed their
own interests above God’s service? Have they not loved the things
of the world? Look at their selfishness, their malice, their hatred of
one another. Justice demands that God pronounce judgment against
them.”
But the followers of Christ have repented of their sins and turned
to the Lord in sorrow, and the divine Advocate pleads in their behalf.
He who has been most abused by their ingratitude declares, “I gave
My life for these people. They may have imperfections of character,
but they have repented, and I have forgiven and accepted them.”
The assaults of Satan are strong. The flames of the furnace seem
about to consume God’s people, but Jesus will bring them through as
gold tried in the fire. Their earthliness will be removed, that Christ
may perfectly reveal His image through them.
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At times the Lord may seem to have forgotten His church, but
nothing in the world is so dear to the heart of God. He does not
leave His people to be overcome by Satan’s temptations. He will
punish those who misrepresent Him, but He will be gracious to all
who repent.
In the time of the end the people of God will sigh and cry for
the abominations done in the land. With tears they will warn the
wicked of their danger in trampling on the divine law, and they will
humble themselves before the Lord in repentance. The wicked will
ridicule their solemn appeals. But the anguish of God’s people is