MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
April 22, 2026
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
GOD’S PURPOSE FOR NOT QUICKLY ABORTING EVIL AND ITS ORIGINATOR LUCIFER
TEXT: “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but the things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deut. 29:29, KJV.
Having first laid down “the greater light” foundations from the Bible of this profound subject, we now quote excerpts of its magnification from “the lesser light” (all emphasis and bracketed words/numbers provided):
“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 THESE 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 the 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 the Holy Writ.
“Others, however, FAIL OF A SATISFACTORY UNDERSTANDING of the great problem of evil [due] from the fact that TRADITION AND MISINTERPRETATION have obscured the teaching of the Bible concerning [1] the character of God, [2] the nature of His government, and [3] 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 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 Scripture than that God was IN NO WISE RESPONSIBLE for the entrance of sin [either in heaven or earth]; that there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, NO DEFICIENCY in the divine government, that gave occasion to 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, of 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’ [1 John 3: 4]; it is the outworking of A PRINCIPLE AT WAR with the great law of love which is the foundation of the divine government [of God’s everlasting kingdom].”- Ellen G. White, ‘The Origin of Evil,’ ch. 29, Great Controversy, 1911, Pacific Press Publishing, pp. 492-3.
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.