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Chapter Thirty
Enmity Between Man and Satan
“I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and
between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and
thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Genesis 3:15. The divine
sentence pronounced against Satan after the fall of man was also
a prophecy, embracing all the ages to the close of time and
foreshadowing the great conflict to engage all the races of
men who should live upon the earth.
God declares: “I will put enmity.” This enmity is not
naturally entertained. When man transgressed the divine
law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony, and not
at variance, with Satan. There exists naturally no enmity
between sinful man and the originator of sin. Both became
evil through apostasy. The apostate is never at rest, except
as he obtains sympathy and support by inducing others
to follow his example. For this reason fallen angels and
wicked men unite in desperate companionship. Had not
God specially interposed, Satan and man would have entered
into an alliance against Heaven; and instead of cherishing
enmity against Satan, the whole human family would have
been united in opposition to God.
Satan tempted man to sin, as he had caused angels to rebel,
that he might thus secure co-operation in his warfare against
Heaven. There was no dissension between himself and the
fallen angels as regards their hatred of Christ; while on all
other points there was discord, they were firmly united in
opposing the authority of the Ruler of the universe. But
when Satan heard the declaration that enmity should exist
between himself and the woman, and between his seed and
her seed, he knew that his efforts to deprave human nature
would be interrupted; that by some means man was to be
enabled to resist his power.
Satan’s enmity against the human race is kindled because,
through Christ, they are the objects of God’s love and mercy.
He desires to thwart the divine plan for man’s redemption, to
cast dishonor upon God, by defacing and defiling His handiwork;
he would cause grief in heaven and fill the earth with
woe and desolation. And he points to all this evil as the
result of God’s work in creating man.
It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul which
creates in man enmity against Satan. Without this converting
grace and renewing power, man would continue the captive
of Satan, a servant ever ready to do his bidding. But the new
principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto had been
peace. The power which Christ imparts enables man to resist
the tyrant and usurper. Whoever is seen to abhor sin instead
of loving it, whoever resists and conquers those passions that
have held sway within, displays the operation of a principle
wholly from above.
The antagonism that exists between the spirit of Christ
and the spirit of Satan was most strikingly displayed in the
world’s reception of Jesus. It was not so much because He
appeared without worldly wealth, pomp, or grandeur that
the Jews were led to reject Him. They saw that He possessed
power which would more than compensate for the lack of
these outward advantages. But the purity and holiness of
Christ called forth against Him the hatred of the ungodly.
His life of self-denial and sinless devotion was a perpetual
reproof to a proud, sensual people. It was this that evoked
enmity against the Son of God. Satan and evil angels joined
with evil men. All the energies of apostasy conspired against
the Champion of truth.
The same enmity is manifested toward Christ’s followers
as was manifested toward their Master. Whoever sees the
repulsive character of sin, and in strength from above resists
temptation, will assuredly arouse the wrath of Satan and his
subjects. Hatred of the pure principles of truth, and reproach
and persecution of its advocates, will exist as long as sin and
sinners remain. The followers of Christ and the servants of
Satan cannot harmonize. The offense of the cross has not
ceased. “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12.
Satan’s agents are constantly working under his direction
to establish his authority and build up his kingdom in
opposition to the government of God. To this end they seek to
deceive Christ’s followers and allure them from their
allegiance. Like their leader, they misconstrue and pervert the
Scriptures to accomplish their object. As Satan endeavored
to cast reproach upon God, so do his agents seek to malign
God’s people. The spirit which put Christ to death moves
the wicked to destroy His followers. All this is foreshadowed
in that first prophecy: “I will put enmity between thee and
the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” And this
will continue to the close of time.
Satan summons all his forces and throws his whole power
into the combat. Why is it that he meets with no greater
resistance? Why are the soldiers of Christ so sleepy and
indifferent? Because they have so little real connection with
Christ; because they are so destitute of His Spirit. Sin is not
to them repulsive and abhorrent, as it was to their Master.
They do not meet it, as did Christ, with decisive and determined
resistance. They do not realize the exceeding evil and
malignity of sin, and they are blinded both to the character
and the power of the prince of darkness. There is little
enmity against Satan and his works, because there is so great
ignorance concerning his power and malice, and the vast
extent of his warfare against Christ and His church. Multitudes
are deluded here. They do not know that their enemy
is a mighty general who controls the minds of evil angels,
and that with well-matured plans and skillful movements
he is warring against Christ to prevent the salvation of souls.
Among professed Christians, and even among ministers of
the gospel, there is heard scarcely a reference to Satan, except
perhaps an incidental mention in the pulpit. They overlook
the evidences of his continual activity and success; they
neglect the many warnings of his subtlety; they seem to
ignore his very existence.
While men are ignorant of his devices, this vigilant foe is
upon their track every moment. He is intruding his presence
in every department of the household, in every street of our
cities, in the churches, in the national councils, in the courts
of justice, perplexing, deceiving, seducing, everywhere ruining
the souls and bodies of men, women, and children, breaking
up families, sowing hatred, emulation, strife, sedition,
murder. And the Christian world seem to regard these things
as though God had appointed them and they must exist.
Satan is continually seeking to overcome the people of
God by breaking down the barriers which separate them
from the world. Ancient Israel were enticed into sin when
they ventured into forbidden association with the heathen.
In a similar manner are modern Israel led astray. “The god
of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is
the image of God, should shine unto them.”
2 Corinthians
4:4. All who are not decided followers of Christ are servants
of Satan. In the unregenerate heart there is love of sin and a
disposition to cherish and excuse it. In the renewed heart
there is hatred of sin and determined resistance against it.
When Christians choose the society of the ungodly and
unbelieving, they expose themselves to temptation. Satan
conceals himself from view and stealthily draws his deceptive
covering over their eyes. They cannot see that such company
is calculated to do them harm; and while all the time assimilating
to the world in character, words, and actions, they are
becoming more and more blinded.
Conformity to worldly customs converts the church to the
world; it never converts the world to Christ. Familiarity
with sin will inevitably cause it to appear less repulsive. He
who chooses to associate with the servants of Satan will soon
cease to fear their master. When in the way of duty we are
brought into trial, as was Daniel in the king’s court, we may
be sure that God will protect us; but if we place ourselves
under temptation we shall fall sooner or later.
The tempter often works most successfully through those
who are least suspected of being under his control. The
possessors of talent and education are admired and honored,
as if these qualities could atone for the absence of the fear of
God or entitle men to His favor. Talent and culture,
considered in themselves, are gifts of God; but when these are
made to supply the place of piety, when, instead of bringing
the soul nearer to God, they lead away from Him, then they
become a curse and a snare. The opinion prevails with many
that all which appears like courtesy or refinement must, in
some sense, pertain to Christ. Never was there a greater
mistake. These qualities should grace the character of every
Christian, for they would exert a powerful influence in favor
of true religion; but they must be consecrated to God, or they
also are a power for evil. Many a man of cultured intellect
and pleasant manners, who would not stoop to what is
commonly regarded as an immoral act, is but a polished
instrument in the hands of Satan. The insidious, deceptive
character of his influence and example renders him a more
dangerous enemy to the cause of Christ than are those who
are ignorant and uncultured.
By earnest prayer and dependence upon God, Solomon
obtained the wisdom which excited the wonder and admiration
of the world. But when he turned from the Source of
his strength, and went forward relying upon himself, he fell
a prey to temptation. Then the marvelous powers bestowed
on this wisest of kings only rendered him a more effective
agent of the adversary of souls.
While Satan is constantly seeking to blind their minds to
the fact, let Christians never forget that they “wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against wicked spirits in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12,
margin. The inspired warning is sounding down the centuries
to our time: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary
the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom
he may devour.”
1 Peter 5:8. “Put on the whole armor of
God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil.”
Ephesians 6:11.
From the days of Adam to our own time, our great
enemy has been exercising his power to oppress and
destroy. He is now preparing for his last campaign against the
church. All who seek to follow Jesus will be brought into
conflict with this relentless foe. The more nearly the Christian
imitates the divine Pattern, the more surely will he make
himself a mark for the attacks of Satan. All who are actively
engaged in the cause of God, seeking to unveil the deceptions
of the evil one and to present Christ before the people, will be
able to join in the testimony of Paul, in which he speaks of
serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears
and temptations.
Satan assailed Christ with his fiercest and most subtle
temptations, but he was repulsed in every conflict. Those
battles were fought in our behalf; those victories make it
possible for us to conquer. Christ will give strength to all
who seek it. No man without his own consent can be overcome
by Satan. The tempter has no power to control the will
or to force the soul to sin. He may distress, but he cannot
contaminate. He can cause agony, but not defilement. The
fact that Christ has conquered should inspire His followers
with courage to fight manfully the battle against sin and
Satan.
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