MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
June 10, 2026
God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration
THAT THE WHOLE UNIVERSE MAY SEE THE MASTER DECEIVER UNMASKED
TEXT: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa. 55: 8, 9, KJV.
Continuing from last week’s extract from Ellen G. White’s The Great Controversy, 1911 edition, Pacific Press Publishing, pp. 498-9 (all emphasis and bracketed words provided):
“The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan charged upon the law and government of God. ALL EVIL he declared to be the result of the DIVINE ADMINISTRATION. He claimed that it was his own object [purpose] to IMPROVE UPON THE STATUTES [and law] OF JEHOVAH.
“Therefore it was necessary that he should demonstrate THE NATURE of his claims, and show the working out of his PROPOSED CHANGES to the divine law. HIS OWN WORK MUST CONDEMN HIM. Satan had claimed from the first he was NOT in rebellion. THE WHOLE UNIVERSE [not only heaven and earth] MUST SEE THE DECEIVER UNMASKED.
[God’s infinite wisdom and “enduring mercy” demonstrated first in heaven]: “Even when it was decided [by the heavenly council of the Godhead] that he could no longer remain in heaven, INFINITE WISDOM did not destroy Satan. Since the SERVICE OF LOVE can alone be acceptable to God, the ALLEGIANCE of His creatures must rest upon CONVICTION OF HIS JUSTICE AND BENEVOLENCE.
“The inhabitants of heaven [angels] and of OTHER WORLDS, being UNPREPARED TO COMPREHEND the nature or the consequences of SIN, could not then have seen the JUSTICE AND MERCY of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been IMMEDIATELY blotted out from existence, they would have served God from FEAR, rather than from LOVE.
“The INFLUENCE of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor would the SPIRIT OF REBELLION have been utterly eradicated. EVIL MUST BE PERMITTED [by God] TO COME TO MATURITY [‘filled to the brim,’ ‘full-cup’ principle].
“FOR THE GOOD OF THE UNIVERSE THROUGH CEASELESS AGES, Satan must more fully develop his principles, that HIS CHARGES against the divine government might be SEEN IN ITS TRUE LIGHT BY ALL CREATED BEINGS, that the justices and mercy of God and the immutability of the His law might be FOREVER be placed beyond all question.” (End extract).
I am stunned and humbled, unable to find words to thank God enough for revealing to fallen, sinful, finite mortals like me, such staggeringly awesome truths “from eternity past,” way before the earth and man was created! Truly “how excellent is His name (character),” and “His ways past finding out.” By such divine revelations we can, intellectually and spiritually, say in humble and hopeful confidence, “GOD IS IN CONTROL.” For I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”
To be continued next MWM. God willing, bless all. NMF.