Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 9

"For we are _His workmans.h.i.+p_, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which G.o.d hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10.

9. What a.s.surance is given concerning the unfailing power of the Creator?

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting G.o.d, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, _fainteth not, neither is weary_? there is no searching of His understanding." Isa. 40:28.

10. What encouraging statement follows concerning the supply of power to the faint?

"_He giveth power to the faint_; and to them that have no might _He increaseth strength_." Verse 29.

11. To whom are those who suffer exhorted to commit their souls?

"Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of G.o.d commit their souls in well-doing _unto a faithful Creator_." 1 Peter 4:19, R. V.

12. What gave special force to the oath of an angel?

"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth forever and ever, _who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein_, that there should be time no longer." Rev. 10:5, 6.

13. What contrast is drawn in the Scriptures between the Creator and false G.o.ds?

"Thus shall ye say unto them, _The G.o.ds that have not made the heavens and the earth_, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.... The portion of Jacob is not like them: for _He is the former of all things_; and Israel is the rod of His inheritance: The Lord of hosts is His name." Jer. 10:11-16.

14. To whom is our wors.h.i.+p justly due?

"O come, let us wors.h.i.+p and bow down: let us kneel before _the Lord our Maker_." Ps. 95:6.

15. In view of the curse upon this creation, what has G.o.d promised?

"For, behold, _I create new heavens and a new earth_: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Isa. 65:17. See Rev. 21:1.

16. What is the true basis of the brotherhood of man?

"_Have we not all one Father? hath not one G.o.d created us?_ why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?" Mal. 2:10.

O Thou eternal One! whose presence bright All s.p.a.ce doth occupy, all motion guide; Unchanged through time's all devastating flight!

Thou only G.o.d-there is no G.o.d beside!

Being above all beings! Mighty One, Whom none can comprehend and none explore; Who fill'st existence with Thyself alone, Embracing all, supporting, ruling o'er; Being whom we call G.o.d, and know no more!

Thou from primeval nothingness didst call First chaos, then existence; Lord, on Thee Eternity hath its foundation; all Sprung forth from Thee,-of light, joy, harmony, Sole origin,-all life, all beauty Thine; Thy word created all, and doth create; Thy splendor fills all s.p.a.ce with rays divine; Thou art and wert and shalt be! Glorious! Great!

Light-giving, life-sustaining Potentate!

DERZHAVIN.

The Origin Of Evil

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Fall Of Satan. "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Luke 10:18.

1. With whom did sin originate?

"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for _the devil sinneth from the beginning_." 1 John 3:8.

NOTE.-Without the Bible, the question of the origin of evil would remain unexplained.

2. From what time has the devil been a murderer?

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the l.u.s.ts of your father ye will do.

_He was a murderer from the beginning_, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him." John 8:44.

3. What is the devil's relations.h.i.+p to lying?

"When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for _he is a liar, and the father of it_." Same verse.

4. Was Satan created sinful?

"Thou wast _perfect_ in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, _till iniquity was found in thee_." Eze. 28:15.

NOTE.-This, and the statement in John 8:44, that he "_abode_ not in the truth," show that Satan was once _perfect_, and _in the truth_. Peter speaks of "the angels that _sinned_" (2 Peter 2:4); and Jude refers to "the angels which _kept not their first estate_" (Jude 6); both of which show that these angels were once in a state of sinlessness and innocence.

5. What further statement of Christ seems to lay the responsibility for the origin of sin upon Satan and his angels?

"Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, _prepared for the devil and his angels_."

Matt. 25:41.

6. What led to Satan's sin, rebellion, and downfall?

"_Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty_, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy _brightness_." Eze. 28:17. "Thou hast said in thine heart, _I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of G.o.d: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: ... I will be like the Most High_." Isa. 14:13, 14.

NOTE.-In a word, pride and self-exaltation led to Satan's downfall, and for these there is no justification or adequate excuse. "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Prov. 16:18. Hence, while we may know of the origin, cause, character, and results of evil, no good or sufficient reason or excuse can be given for it. To excuse it is to justify it; and the moment it is justified it ceases to be sin.

All sin is a manifestation of selfishness in some form, and its results are the opposite of those prompted by love. The experiment of sin will result finally in its utter abandonment and banishment forever, by all created intelligences, throughout the entire universe of G.o.d. Only those who foolishly and persistently cling to sin will be destroyed with it. The wicked will then "be as though they had not been" (Obadiah 16), and the righteous shall "s.h.i.+ne as the brightness of the firmament," and "as the stars forever and ever." Dan. 12:3. "Affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9. See reading on "Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan," page 499.

7. In contrast with the pride and self-exaltation exhibited by Satan, what spirit did Christ manifest?

"Who, being in the form of G.o.d, thought it not robbery to be equal with G.o.d: but _made Himself of no reputation_, and took upon Him the form of a _servant_, and was made in the likeness of _men_: and being found in fas.h.i.+on as a man, _He humbled Himself_, and became obedient unto _death_, even _the death of the cross_." Phil. 2:6-8.