Key text : 1 Samuel 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king."
Questions have always been asked as to where sin actually came from. From Revelation 12:4 we realize that the Satan cast down 1/3 of the angels in heaven. How could one being, who dwelt in the very presence of GOD, the highest of all angels....sin.....and how could he deceive such a great population of angels?
...............DID GOD CREATE AN IMPERFECT BEING?.....................
It has been suggested often by skeptics that by creating a being that was prone to sin, GOD actually created an imperfect being. Nothing could be further from the truth. The word of GOD remains instructive to us.
In describing Lucifer before he fell, the BIBLE has this to say,
Ezekiel 28:15 "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee."
GOD created a perfect being, perfect in all his ways. So perfect was Lucifer, that he was appointed the covering cherub (Ezekiel 28:14).
But the question is.....WHAT REALLY CHANGED?
A quick answer is this.........the principles of witchcraft had started operating in his heart, and he let this principles develop to such an extent that they overtook him completely.
Now in the above key text ( 1 Samuel 15:23) we get to realize that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Thus by engaging in rebellion against the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, he was engaging in a certain species of sorcery that is the most dangerous of all forms.
Isaiah 14:12-14 details the operation of this witchcraft in Lucifer's heart in the following words:
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer son of the morning, how art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the nations ! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of GOD, I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north,I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most High"
He sought to be like the most High in power and position, but not in character and personality.
..............BUT WHERE DID SIN REALLY COME FROM?......................
The title of this series is "Mysteries at War". This is because the BIBLE discloses to us the operation of 2 mysteries that have been at war since Lucifer's rebellion and will continue to the second coming of CHRIST. They are:
1. The Mystery of Godliness
1 Timothy 3:16 " And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: GOD was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory"
2. The Mystery of Iniquity
2 Thessalonians 2:7 " For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way"
The BIBLE terms the origin of sin as a 'mystery'. Something unknown.....a secret. In Deuteronomy 29:29 we are told that the secret things belong to the LORD our GOD.
However GOD is a revealer of mysteries (Daniel 2:28, 47 Psalm 25:14) and He reveals the mysteries at His own appointed time to His people.
.......BUT ACCORDING TO ISAIAH 45:7, DOES GOD CREATE EVIL?...........
Isaiah 45:7 " I form the light and create darkness: I make peace and create evil: I the LORD do all these things"
This verse has often been misquoted and used by the enemy to imply that GOD did create evil. Nothing could be further from the truth.
When we read the verse, we realize that it makes use of opposites to bring a contrast e.g. light and darkness. Now hermeneutics tells us that we need to interpret the BIBLE verse wholly. Since darkness is the opposite of light, then the word evil, in this context denotes the opposite of peace i.e. calamity.
...........THE WHOLE WORLD UNDER SORCERY...................
Sadly, the BIBLE tells us that in the last days, the whole world will be under sorcery. the same sorcery that led to the falling of 1/3 of the angels in heaven, will enchant the whole world.
Revelation 18:23 tells us that by sorcery shall all men be deceived.
The question is, does this include Seventh-day Adventists, will we resist the devil and his power of sorcery (James 4:7), will we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of the testimony (Revelation 12:11) or shall we be ensnared by sorcery?
Philippians 4:13 " I can do all things through CHRIST which strengtheneth me."
From Nairobi Kenya, I wish you all happy sabbath and blessed night as you meditate upon these things.
No comments:
Post a Comment