MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
God’s Saving Enmity
Part 12
SATAN’S ENMITY AGAINST GOD’S LAW OF LOVE
“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 [John 1:1-3], the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father—one in nature, character, and in purpose,—the ONLY BEING in the whole universe that could enter into all the purposes and counsels of God. By Christ, the Father wrought in the CREATION of all heavenly beings [the angels]. [Col. 1:16 quoted]; and to Christ, EQUALLY to the Father, all HEAVEN gave allegiance.
(NOTE: Biblical unity of spiritual oneness, as modeled in and by the three Persons of the Godhead, is one in nature, character, and purpose. It’s man-made opposite and counterfeit is enforced uniformity with emphasis on external appearance and form, and excludes the freedom and liberty of the individuality of man to make choices based on conviction of conscience where, what, when, and who to obey, venerate, and worship).
“The Law of love being the FOUNDATION of the government of God, the happiness of all beings DEPENDED upon their perfect accord [and obedience] with its great principles of RIGHTEOUSNESS. God desires from all His creatures the SERVICE OF LOVE, homage 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 [beginning with the angels as “ministering spirits”].
“But there was one that CHOSE TO PERVERT THiS FREEDOM. Sin originated with him who, NEXT to Christ, has been most honored of God, and stood HIGHEST in power and glory among the inhabitants of HEAVEN. Before his fall, LUCIFER was FIRST of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. “Thou wast perfect in thy ways, till INIQUITY was found in Thee.’ [Eze. 28: 12-15, 17 quoted].
“Satan might have retained in favor with God, beloved and honored by all the ANGELIC HOST, exercising his noble powers to bless others and 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’ [Eze. 28: 12-15, 17].
“Little by little [step after step], Lucifer came to INDULGE a desire for SELF EXALTATION. ‘Thou hast set thine heart AS the heart of God.’ Thou hast said…..I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation [of angels]….I will ascend ABOVE the heights of the clouds [of all the angels]; I will be LIKE THE MOST HIGH’[Eze. 28:6; Isa. 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 [the angelic host] service and honor 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.” E. G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 ed., pp. 493-4. This was the genesis and source of the “mystery of iniquity” with its “enmity” with Christ, God’s law, and His faithful people throughout all the ages since, till the end of fallen earth’s time! It started in heaven, the home of the angels, but ends on earth the planet home the Creator originally made for man. As fallen, sinful, corrupted man is restored on earth to the original sinless “image and likeness” character to his Creator by the plan of redemption of the gospel, so will be “the new earth,” which is the antitypical “Canaan,”the eternal “Promised Land” of the eternally-redeemed “where sin” and iniquity with its enmity “shall rise no more.”
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.