HOW MANY LOST?

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Rev.12:9

     Just how far has Satan deceived “the whole world?” Our study is not to chronicle the never-ending volumes of sin. While it is wise to understand the parameters of sin's jurisdiction for our own sanctification, to allow the billows of the ungodliness that rules this present world to envelop our lives is wasted time. We could devote our entire lives to listing every evil scheme that threatens, betrays, and murders innocent people, and we’d be no closer to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ than the first day we began our course.

     The discipline of life’s virtues is available to us to establish. The remainder of our lives are best devoted to refine and elevate our character. When faith in Jesus Christ takes hold in the heart a new life begins in the soul. Jesus said that He will personally come to live out the virtues of His Holy Life in the humble believer. He gives His faith where ours is weak; His wisdom when we are perplexed; His courage when we are discouraged; and His love when our hearts are cold.

     In this new companionship our character traits that are unbecoming must be weeded out. In this work the LORD will not press us beyond our capabilities. He will unfold each lesson as we are able to bear them. In this refining process our passions must be subservient to the powers of reason. Our tendency to feel offended must be mastered; our instinct to retaliate subdued. If this prayerful posture can be exercised (as with a muscle) precious victories will be gained and strength increased. Our supreme happiness can only be achieved by holding to Christ’s standard of virtue, “and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35. In every act of self-denial, every gesture of unselfish motivation a fortitude is developed; a godliness that all will notice and be drawn to desire in their own lives. The Holy Spirit will see to this. With one victory won, the next is more easily gained.

     Had Noah, Moses, or David neglected the opportunities and privileges granted to them by God, they would have prevented the blessing from the throne of heaven, and would have finished out their days in disappointment, regret, and misery. This is Satan’s goal for every man. The darkness of sin enshrouds all who give ear to his temptations. And when sin is indulged, Satan takes hold in the soul. And every inch of ground he gains in his lust for the supremacy must now be regained. This is where the knowledge and implementation of GOD’S Word and His Holy Law must be our bulwark to stop him in his tracks and allow the power of GOD working in us to force his retreat.

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.” Ja.4:6,7; I Pet.5:6-11; Ja.4:12.

     GOD has not given His Holy Law (including the seventh day Sabbath) to condemn or to prevent the salvation of souls, but rather to enlighten them to its significance in the plan of salvation. GOD Himself abides by His Law. It is as eternal as the law of gravity. And it is this moral standard that condemns Satan and all who with him deny its authority as the moral standard for life. Man has been given great light and opportunities. And if he will improve every opportunity GOD provides he may overcome as Christ overcame (Rev.3:21). We may show by our lives the power of the grace of GOD in overcoming “the sin which doth so easily beset us.” Heb.12:1.

     Others are keen to watch our every step, our every word, our tone of voice, and expression of face. In the midst of this, demons of Satan work to thwart all efforts in witnessing Christ’s salvation via virtuous living. Their only goal is the moral and physical degradation of man, to the end that none may escape their snares and thus receive “that recompense of their error which was meet.” Rom.1:27. This is where only the Bible’s lessons of our salvation through Jesus Christ will fortify our minds and hearts to overcome the many fiery darts hurled at us, in temptations and the many oppressive qualities of living in a fundamentally immoral society.

     When Satan is given the advantage he imposes himself through our words and passions. And when we converse with one another in fleeting words this is an open door for Satan to lead us to speak words that hurt someone’s feelings, even to reopen a deep wound in their heart: one that stings the soul. The Apostle James devoted an entire passage on the importance of bridling the tongue:

“Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” Ja.3:5-213.

     James drew his words from Jesus when He said, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt.12:35-37. The Apostle Paul likewise testified of this danger: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” II Cor.6:14-18.

     As light has no communion with darkness, and Christ has no association with Belial, every man, woman, and adolescent child must stand entirely for one or the other. There is no neutral ground when it comes to the controversy between Christ and Satan! But in man’s moral frailty he yields to self-indulgence, avarice, deception, fraud, and sin of every kind. This is why our world will never see the reforms that could undo the plethora man’s abuse of life’s dignity. By so doing, man enables the purposes of Satan to be carried out in his life. He has shut out the light to the soul while closing the door on Christ’s salvation.

     But all is not lost! Said Jesus, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Rev.3:20-22. The longsuffering of GOD bears patiently with His wayward children and works the circumstances in the life to bring repentance, and thus restore the Presence of His Spirit in the soul (Rom.8:11). King David knew this precious lesson first-hand:

“The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Ps.103:6-14.

     The temptations we all face will never cease until Satan’s presence is removed from our lives. Because of this, Jesus desires our union with Him through the Power of the Holy Spirit to gain our victory over sin. He calls for our cooperation with Him to resist temptation, because Satan’s purpose is to destroy us and those we love. We all have areas where we are strong and unflinching. But we also have those areas that need spiritual reinforcement, to strengthen those areas of our character that are weak. The saying is very true: “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” But even in these vulnerable areas of our lives we can rest “in Christ” to bring victory as the apostle James stated: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting [or lacking] nothing.” Ja.1:2-4.

     But because Satan always works to countermand GOD’S demonstrations of love, care, and sanctifying power he uses man’s instinctive propensity to prefer sin over righteousness to lead away from Christ and the perfect destiny that Bible prophecy has ordained for the redeemed (Rev.21). It was because of Satan’s belligerent stance against heaven’s love that he was thrust out of heaven; and no man indulging and fostering sin can go to heaven, for then Satan would again have a foothold there to sow his seeds of rebellion as he did at the first.

     When we solemnly confront, day by day the spiritual warfare taking place and in prayerful determination desire to overcome our defects in our character, we show the onlooking universe our humility in cherishing salvation through Jesus Christ. To achieve victory to the glory of GOD we invite His Presence to reside in our soul-temple. “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isa.66:1,2. For only the Presence of Jesus Christ can bring light to dispel the darkness that works to our hurt and our ruin. Under the bright beams of Christ's great love our entire being becomes elevated and ennobled. He brings the peace of heaven into the soul as He promised: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Jn.14:27.

     But in the world many give free reign to passion, materialism, selfishness, willfully “deceiving, and being deceived” (II Tim.3:13) while always excusing themselves from sacred responsibilities, and instead lay the blame for their defective character on the circumstances of their lives as if this excuses their sin. O how many will stand before Jesus Christ in the resurrection judgment and vainly attempt to avert their moral responsibility, even to the blaming of GOD for the trials and tribulations that through their immoral decisions they brought upon themselves. This has been the case in the lives of multitudes. Many will declare, “Had we a better environment, we would not be standing in the condemnation of sin!” But GOD permits our surroundings to exist to develop our character. Many have risen above their oppressive circumstances and achieved great things to the glory of GOD. It is as the psalmist said: “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.” Ps.87:4-6. And the LORD said through His prophet Ezekiel, “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.” Eze.14:14.

The Apostle Paul carried this principle to a refined detail:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them [“as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom.12:3)]. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Rom.1:18-25.

     With all that is working against us let us not be “as others which have no hope.” I Thess.4:13. We are called to overcome the circumstances of our surroundings as the faithful have throughout the ages. For by resisting and enduring temptation, the temporal and spiritual oppression of living in a sinful world will be limited by the might of the will of Jesus Christ! This is our leverage in overcoming the world as Christ overcame. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."