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are dishonoring Him； and their influence； instead of drawing others to
Christ； tends to repel
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them from Him。 They are unproductive trees； that spread their dark branches
far and wide； shutting away the sunlight from other plants； and causing them
to droop and die under the chilling shadow。 The lifework of these persons
will appear as a never…ceasing witness against them。 They are sowing seeds
of doubt and skepticism that will yield an unfailing harvest。
There is but one course for those to pursue who honestly desire to be freed
from doubts。 Instead of questioning and caviling concerning that which they
do not understand； let them give heed to the light which already shines upon
them； and they will receive greater light。 Let them do every duty which has
been made plain to their understanding； and they will be enabled to
understand and perform those of which they are now in doubt。
Satan can present a counterfeit so closely resembling the truth that it
deceives those who are willing to be deceived； who desire to shun the
self…denial and sacrifice demanded by the truth； but it is impossible for
him to hold under his power one soul who honestly desires； at whatever cost；
to know the truth。 Christ is the truth and the 〃Light； which lighteth every
man that cometh into the world。〃 John 1：9。 The Spirit of truth has been sent
to guide men into all truth。 And upon the authority of the Son of God it is
declared： 〃Seek； and ye shall find。〃 〃If any man will do His will； he shall
know of the doctrine。〃 Matthew 7：7； John 7：17。
The followers of Christ know little of the plots which Satan and his hosts
are forming against them。 But He who sitteth in the heavens will overrule
all these devices for the accomplishment of His deep designs。 The Lord
permits His people to be subjected to the fiery ordeal of temptation； not
because He takes pleasure in their distress and affliction； but because this
process is essential to their final victory。 He could not； consistently with
His own glory； shield them from temptation； for the very object of the trial
is to prepare them to resist all the allurements of evil。
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Neither wicked men nor devils can hinder the work of God； or shut out His
presence from His people； if they will； with subdued； contrite hearts；
confess and put away their sins； and in faith claim His promises。 Every
temptation； every opposing influence； whether open or secret； may be
successfully resisted； 〃not by might； nor by power； but by My Spirit； saith
the Lord of hosts。〃 Zechariah 4：6。
〃The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous； and His ears are open unto
their prayers。 。 。 。 And who is he that will harm you； if ye be followers of
that which is good？〃 1 Peter 3：12； 13。 When Balaam； allured by the promise
of rich rewards； practiced enchantments against Israel； and by sacrifices to
the Lord sought to invoke a curse upon His people； the Spirit of God forbade
the evil which he longed to pronounce； and Balaam was forced to exclaim：
〃How shall I curse； whom God hath not cursed？ or how shall I defy； whom the
Lord hath not defied？〃 〃Let me die the death of the righteous； and let my
last end be like his！〃 When sacrifice had again been offered； the ungodly
prophet declared： 〃Behold； I have received commandment to bless： and He hath
blessed； and I cannot reverse it。 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob；
neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel： the Lord his God is with him；
and the shout of a King is among them。〃 〃Surely there is no enchantment
against Jacob； neither is there any divination against Israel： according to
this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel； What hath God wrought！〃
Yet a third time altars were erected； and again Balaam essayed to secure a
curse。 But from the unwilling lips of the prophet； the Spirit of God
declared the prosperity of His chosen； and rebuked the folly and malice of
their foes： 〃Blessed is he that blesseth thee； and cursed is he that curseth
thee。〃 Numbers 23：8； 10； 20； 21； 23； 24：9。
The people of Israel were at this time loyal to God； and so long as they
continued in obedience to His law； no power in earth or hell could prevail
against them。 But the curse which Balaam had not been permitted to pronounce
against
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God's people； he finally succeeded in bringing upon them by seducing them
into sin。 When they transgressed God's commandments； then they separated
themselves from Him； and they were left to feel the power of the destroyer。
Satan is well aware that the weakest soul who abides in Christ is more than
a match for the hosts of darkness； and that； should he reveal himself
openly； he would be met and resisted。 Therefore he seeks to draw away the
soldiers of the cross from their strong fortification； while he lies in
ambush with his forces； ready to destroy all who venture upon his ground。
Only in humble reliance upon God； and obedience to all His commandments； can
we be secure。
No man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer。 Especially should we
entreat the Lord for wisdom to understand His word。 Here are revealed the
wiles of the tempter and the means by which he may be successfully resisted。
Satan is an expert in quoting Scripture； placing his own interpretation upon
passages； by which he hopes to cause us to stumble。 We should study the
Bible with humility of heart； never losing sight of our dependence upon God。
While we must constantly guard against the devices of Satan； we should pray
in faith continually： 〃Lead us not into temptation。〃
（531）
Chapter 33
The First Great Deception
With the earliest history of man； Satan began his efforts to deceive our
race。 He who had incited rebellion in heaven desired to bring the
inhabitants of the earth to unite with him in his warfare against the
government of God。 Adam and Eve had been perfectly happy in obedience to the
law of God； and this fact was a constant testimony against the claim which
Satan had urged in heaven； that God's law was oppressive and opposed to the
good of His creatures。 And furthermore； Satan's envy was excited as he
looked upon the beautiful home prepared for the sinless pair。 He determined
to cause their fall； that； having separated them from God and brought them
under his own power； he might gain possession of the earth and here
establish his kingdom in opposition to the Most High。
Had Satan revealed himself in his real character； he would have been
repulsed at once； for Adam and Eve had been warned against this dangerous
foe； but he worked in the dark； concealing his purpose； that he might more
effectually accomplish his object。 Employing as his medium the serpent； then
a creature of fascinating appearance； he addressed himself to Eve： 〃Hath God
said； Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden？〃 Genesis 3：1。 Had Eve
refrained from entering into argument with the tempter； she would have been
safe； but she ventured to parley with him and fell a victim to his
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wiles。 It is thus that many are still overcome。 They doubt and argue
concerning the requirements of God； and instead of obeying the divine
commands； they accept human theories； which but disguise the devices of
Satan。
〃The woman said unto the serpent； We may eat of the fruit of the trees of
the garden： but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden； God hath said； Ye shall not eat of it； neither shall ye touch it；
lest ye die。 And the serpent said unto the woman； Ye shall not surely die：
for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof； then your eyes shall be
opened； and ye shall be as gods； knowing good and evil。〃 Verses 2…5。 He
declared that they would become like God； possessing greater wisdom than
before and being capable of a higher state of existence。 Eve yielded to
temptation； and through her influence； Adam was led into sin。 They accepted
the words of the serpent； that God did not mean what He said； they
distrusted their Creator and imagined that He was restricting their liberty
and that they might obtain great wisdom and exaltation by transgressing His
law。
But what did Adam； after his sin； find to be the meaning of the words； 〃In
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die〃？ Did he find them to
mean； as Satan had led him to believe； that he was to be ushered into a more
exalted state of existence？ Then indeed there was great good to be gained by
transgression； and Satan was proved to be a benefactor of the race。 But Adam
did not find this to be the meaning of the divine sentence。 God declared
that as a penalty for his sin； man should return to the ground whence he was
taken： 〃Dust thou art； and unto dust shalt thou return。〃 Verse 19。 The words
of Satan； 〃Your eyes shall be opened；〃 proved to be true in this sense only：
After Adam and Eve had disobeyed God； their eyes were opened to discern
their folly； they did know evil； and they tasted the bitter fruit of
transgression。
In the midst of Eden grew the tree of life； whose fruit had the power of
perpetua