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sanctuary above。 Before the Flood； after Noah entered the ark； God shut him
in and shut the ungodly out； but for seven days the people； knowing not that
their doom was fixed； continued their careless； pleasure…loving life and
mocked the warnings of impending judgment。 〃So；〃 says the Saviour； 〃shall
also the coming of the Son of man be。〃 Matthew 24：39。 Silently； unnoticed as
the midnight thief； will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of
every man's destiny； the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men。
〃Watch ye therefore： 。 。 。 lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping。〃 Mark
13：35； 36。 Perilous is the condition of those who； growing weary of their
watch； turn to the attractions of the world。 While the man of business is
absorbed in the pursuit of gain； while the pleasure lover is seeking
indulgence； while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornmentsit
may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence：
〃Thou art weighed in the balances； and art found wanting。〃 Daniel 5：27。
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Chapter 29
The Origin of Evil
To many minds the origin of sin and the reason for its existence are a
source of great perplexity。 They see the work of evil； with its terrible
results of woe and desolation； and they question how all this can exist
under the sovereignty of One who is infinite in wisdom； in power； and in
love。 Here is a mystery of which they find no explanation。 And in their
uncertainty and doubt they are blinded to truths plainly revealed in God's
word and essential to salvation。 There are those who； in their inquiries
concerning the existence of sin； endeavor to search into that which God has
never revealed； hence they find no solution of their difficulties； and such
as are actuated by a disposition to doubt and cavil seize upon this as an
excuse for rejecting the words of Holy Writ。 Others； however； fail of a
satisfactory understanding of the great problem of evil； from the fact that
tradition and misinterpretation have obscured the teaching of the Bible
concerning the character of God； the nature of His government； and the
principles of His dealing with sin。
It is impossible to explain the origin of sin so as to give a reason for its
existence。 Yet enough may be understood concerning both the origin and the
final disposition of sin to make fully manifest the justice and benevolence
of God in all His dealings with evil。 Nothing is more plainly taught in
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Scripture than that God was in no wise responsible for the entrance of sin；
that there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace； no deficiency in the
divine government； that gave occasion for the uprising of rebellion。 Sin is
an intruder； for whose presence no reason can be given。 It is mysterious；
unaccountable； to excuse it is to defend it。 Could excuse for it be found；
or cause be shown for its existence； it would cease to be sin。 Our only
definition of sin is that given in the word of God； it is 〃the transgression
of the law；〃 it is the outworking of a principle at war with the great law
of love which is the foundation of the divine government。
Before the entrance of evil there was peace and joy throughout the universe。
All was in perfect harmony with the Creator's will。 Love for God was
supreme； love for one another impartial。 Christ the Word； the Only Begotten
of God； was one with the eternal Father；one in nature； in character； and
in purpose；the only being in all the universe that could enter into all
the counsels and purposes of God。 By Christ the Father wrought in the
creation of all heavenly beings。 〃By Him were all things created； that are
in heaven； 。 。 。 whether they be thrones； or dominions； or principalities；
or powers〃 （Colossians 1：16）； and to Christ； equally with the Father； all
heaven gave allegiance。
The law of love being the foundation of the government of God； the happiness
of all created beings depended upon their perfect accord with its great
principles of righteousness。 God desires from all His creatures the service
of lovehomage that springs from an intelligent appreciation of His
character。 He takes no pleasure in a forced allegiance； and to all He grants
freedom of will； that they may render Him voluntary service。
But there was one that chose to pervert this freedom。 Sin originated with
him who； next to Christ； had been most honored of God and who stood highest
in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven。 Before his fall； Lucifer
was
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first of the covering cherubs； holy and undefiled。 〃Thus saith the Lord God；
Thou sealest up the sum； full of wisdom； and perfect in beauty。 Thou hast
been in Eden the garden of God； every precious stone was thy covering。 。 。
。Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth； and I have set thee so： thou
wast upon the holy mountain of God； thou hast walked up and down in the
midst of the stones of fire。 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that
thou wast created； till iniquity was found in thee。〃 Ezekiel 28：12…15。
Lucifer might have remained in favor with God； beloved and honored by all
the angelic host； exercising his noble powers to bless others and to glorify
his Maker。 But； says the prophet； 〃Thine heart was lifted up because of thy
beauty； thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness。〃 Verse
17。 Little by little； Lucifer came to indulge a desire for self…exaltation。
〃Thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God。〃 〃Thou hast said； 。 。 。 I
will exalt my throne above the stars of God： I will sit also upon the mount
of the congregation。。。。I will ascend above the heights of the clouds； I will
be like the Most High。〃 Verse 6； Isaiah 14：13； 14。 Instead of seeking to
make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of His creatures； it was
Lucifer's endeavor to win their service and homage to himself。 And coveting
the honor which the infinite Father had bestowed upon His Son； this prince
of angels aspired to power which it was the prerogative of Christ alone to
wield。
All heaven had rejoiced to reflect the Creator's glory and to show forth His
praise。 And while God was thus honored； all had been peace and gladness。 But
a note of discord now marred the celestial harmonies。 The service and
exaltation of self； contrary to the Creator's plan； awakened forebodings of
evil in minds to whom God's glory was supreme。 The heavenly councils pleaded
with Lucifer。 The Son of God presented before him the greatness； the
goodness； and the justice of the Creator； and the sacred； unchanging nature
of His law。 God Himself had established the order of heaven；
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and in departing from it； Lucifer would dishonor his Maker； and bring ruin
upon himself。 But the warning； given in infinite love and mercy； only
aroused a spirit of resistance。 Lucifer allowed jealousy of Christ to
prevail； and he became the more determined。
Pride in his own glory nourished the desire for supremacy。 The high honors
conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as the gift of God and called
forth no gratitude to the Creator。 He gloried in his brightness and
exaltation； and aspired to be equal with God。 He was beloved and reverenced
by the heavenly host。 Angels delighted to execute his commands； and he was
clothed with wisdom and glory above them all。 Yet the Son of God was the
acknowledged Sovereign of heaven； one in power and authority with the
Father。 In all the councils of God； Christ was a participant； while Lucifer
was not permitted thus to enter into the divine purposes。 〃Why；〃 questioned
this mighty angel； 〃should Christ have the supremacy？ Why is He thus honored
above Lucifer？〃
Leaving his place in the immediate presence of God； Lucifer went forth to
diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels。 Working with mysterious
secrecy； and for a time concealing his real purpose under an appearance of
reverence for God； he endeavored to excite dissatisfaction concerning the
laws that governed heavenly beings； intimating that they imposed an
unnecessary restraint。 Since their natures were holy； he urged that the
angels should obey the dictates of their own will。 He sought to create
sympathy for himself by representing that God had dealt unjustly with him in
bestowing supreme honor upon Christ。 He claimed that in aspiring to greater
power and honor he was not aiming at self…exaltation； but was seeking to
secure liberty for all the inhabitants of heaven； that by this means they
might attain to a higher state of existence。
God in His great mercy bore long with Lucifer。 He was not immediately
degraded from his exalted station when he first indulged the spirit of
discontent； nor even when he
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began to present his false claims before the loyal angels。 Long was he
retained in heaven。 Again and again he was offered pardon on condition of
repentance and submission。 Such efforts as only infinite love and wisdom
could devise were made to convince him of his error。 The spirit of
discontent had never before been known in heaven。 Lucifer h