April 15, 2024
by Rick Combs
Continuing from my last article entitled Christ and Satan, I would like to post an excerpt from Corneluis R. Stam’s 1963 book, The Controversy pages 66-67. This book is available for free online in a .pdf file. It is worth the read for this challenge; “do not fear to be in the minority, for with regard to some of the most important and vital truths the majority, even among God’s people, has often been wrong” – Stam.
“Every true believer knows that “the god of this world [age] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,” but many seem unaware of another vicious objective which their adversary constantly and relentlessly pursues – to keep them, God’s children, from enjoying the blessings that are theirs in Christ. By his cunning wiles he seeks continually to divert their attention, to obscure their vision, to confuse their thinking – anything to keep them from ascending by faith into heavenly places.
And as for those who are aware of his devices and are determined by grace to appropriate all that God has for them – these become the special objects of Satan’s attention. Fearful lest they should come to know too much of the power of Christ’s resurrection, he fiercely assails them with his “fiery darts.” Hence those to whom Paul, by the Spirit, writes concerning their position and blessings in the heavenlies are warned again and again that they will need to put on “the whole armor of God” and are urged again and again to stand.
‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world [age], against spiritual wickedness [wicked spirits] in high places [the heavenlies]” (Eph. 6:12).
With our invisible adversary thus working behind the scenes, using every subtle device to thwart God’s program and turn men from the truth, it is not strange that the gospel of the grace of God should arouse controversy on every hand. This is normal under the present circumstances, nor will any true soldier of Jesus Christ expect peace or ease in his stand for the truth. He will rather make certain that he has all his armor on and knows how to wield the Sword of the Spirit as he heeds the call to “fight the good fight of the faith” (I Tim. 6:12).
Alas for those who talk only of peace and love when called upon to take a stand for the truth. Do they suppose the devil has gone to sleep? Do they imagine he has relaxed his efforts to oppose God’s Word and will? Do they think the principalities and powers in the heavenlies have decided to leave us alone? Do they not see what is happening to the professing Church? Or do they suppose that Satan works only in the realm of the moral, enticing men to worldliness and fleshly lusts? Do they not know that he occupies himself chiefly with the spiritual, appearing as “an angel of light” and sending forth “ministers of righteousness”? (II Cor. 11:14,15). Or, perhaps, do they suppose that they can count upon Satan always to oppose us openly, through unbelievers? Do they not expect him to work from within the Church, until even the choicest saints are in danger of unsuspectingly becoming his tools?
The contest would not be nearly so difficult if Satan succeeded in stirring up only unbelievers against the truth. The difficulty is that often, in his treachery, he succeeds in taking advantage of true, born again, believers and especially of leaders among them.”
Wise words that we all need to remember.
Therefore, let us dear friend: “And having done all to stand… STAND!”