Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 13:30.
God’s Word teaches that those who will follow the footsteps of the Man of Calvary in these last days will have to press forward under the greatest difficulties, for Satan has come down with great power, knowing that he has but a short time to work….
Enmity between truth and falsehood had existed ever since the fall of Satan. The being who now works so constantly to sow the seeds of error once occupied one of the most exalted positions in the heavenly courts. But he was not satisfied with his position. He determined to be more highly exalted, and he worked to further his ambitious projects until there was war in heaven.
Satan, and those whom he had deceived, and who fought with him, were cast out of heaven, but the warfare has been continued on the earth. In every age Satan has worked through men who have departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and teaching deceptive doctrines and principles of satanic origin. Christ taught His disciples how to meet the deceptive work of Satan and his followers. Under a variety of symbols the Saviour presented the work of extending His kingdom of truth and righteousness throughout the world. It is by teaching the truth that we are to defeat the purposes of Satan. Christ illustrated this work in the parable of the sower….
The teaching of this parable is illustrated in God’s own dealing with men and angels. Satan is a deceiver. When he sinned in heaven, even the loyal angels did not fully discern his character. This was why God did not at once destroy him. Had He done so, the holy angels would not have perceived the justice and love of God. A doubt of God’s goodness would have been as evil seed that would yield the bitter fruit of sin and woe. Therefore the author of evil was spared, fully to develop his character.
Through long ages God has borne the anguish of beholding the work of evil. He has given the infinite Gift of Calvary, rather than let any be deceived by the misrepresentations of the wicked one, for the tares could not be plucked up without danger of uprooting the precious grain. And shall we not be as forbearing toward our fellow men as the Lord of heaven is toward Satan?
Not condemnation and judgment of others, but humility and distrust of self, is the teaching of Christ’s parable.—Letter 86, March 4, 1907, “To Our Churches in the Large Cities.”
The Upward Look p. 77
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Cameron who had an aneurysm and stroke while at school. Sally
—-Please pray for Kathy who lost the love of her life. E
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Dear Friends,
When Eileen was three, we lived in a small community in Pennsylvania. It couldn’t be called a town as it consisted of a tiny gas station that had a few grocery items to sell, a bar, and about fifteen houses. We lived at the top of the hill a mile or two away. Occasionally we would walk down to the store to buy a needed item. I didn’t like to go down there without Ron as there was a stray dog that always terrorized anyone who walked along the road. He never bit anyone as far as I knew, but he looked and sounded very scary.
One day, we needed more items than usual at the store, so he took his backpack to carry things in. Eileen asked to go too. She has always been “Daddy’s girl.” Eileen loved to stand in that backpack and ride high on her daddy’s shoulders, so Ron let her take a ride in the empty pack. She looked so cute with her head peaking over Ron’s head and her arms outstretched sideways for balance.
About half an hour later, Ron came back laughing. When thy had gotten down to the bottom of that long hill and were passing the town’s bar, that stray dog came out from behind that dilapidated, wooden structure. He was growling and showing his teeth and acting as if he were going to attack. Suddenly, he stopped, looked surprised, turned around quickly, and went yelping in fright back behind the building. Ron was puzzled. Why the sudden change? Then he thought of how they would look from a dog’s point of view. That animal must have seen them as a whole—a man with two heads and four arms!
Sometimes we can feel as frightened and confused as that big mongrel dog had been. Often the voices vying for our attention are beyond our comprehension to discern. Jesus warns, “if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt 24:23-27
False Christs are easier to discern than false prophets, although the current one in Florida has quite a few followers. Yet, most people can tell by his look and teachings that he is on the devil’s side. False prophets, however, are not so easy. Who are these false prophets? They are anyone who teaches truth with a little error mixed in can be very dangerous. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matt 7:15
How much we need the discernment that comes only from Above. How much we need God’s guiding hand. Without His guidance we will surely fail for the subtle teachers who twist the Scriptures. Without relying upon the One Who knows the end from the beginning, we will make wrong decisions and follow the “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” The Faithful and True Witness offers us the eyesalve of spiritual discernment that we may truly see and understand. (Rev 3:15-18) This gift is free for the asking. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isa 55:1
More than all of this, He has promised, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8 How does He guide us? Through a careful study of His Holy Word. “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:19, 20 It’s only through the light of God’s Holy Word can we know the truth. David says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps 119:105
May we “study to shew [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we allow the Holy Spirit to change us into His image through beholding Jesus through His Word as Paul advises, “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18 May we follow the True Light all the way to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose