[Songs in the Night - September 21]
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
THE Lord's children are to see to it that they are
not deluded into sin and into the service of sin; to that
extent they would be deserting their colors and taking
their stand as opponents of the Lord.
When Christians
take a decided stand against Satan and his wiles they
are relieved from his attacks—not that he flees from
them in the sense that he is fearful of harm to himself,
but that he will leave them.
He will retreat just
as a general of an army would retreat from a city after
having found that its gates were strongly protected
and that attack was useless.
If the Adversary finds
one well protected and resisting him with a firm will,
he will at once retreat.
But if there be any parley with
sin, any tendency to consider a matter when it is seen
to be sin, an entrance is at once made for the Adversary;
and he will renew the attack and press the matter,
placing it in the most alluring light, in order that
he may take control, that he may enter the heart
where he has found the weakness.
Hence it is of the
utmost importance that the child of God should make
a positive and prompt decision when he realizes that
he is being enticed to evil.
A moment's hesitation is
very dangerous.
Those who take their stand for the
Lord, who give themselves fully and unreservedly to
him, he has agreed to protect.
He may permit them
to be assailed for a time, but he will deliver them so
long as they remain loyal and true; and they will be
made stronger as the result of the temptations. Z'16-148 R5896:6 (Hymn 44)