Satan Arranges Overpowering Temptations

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Satan Arranges Overpowering Temptations

Today's Text: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. Ecclesiastes 6:2

The Message:      The life of Solomon is full of warning, not only to youth but to those of mature years, and to the aged, those who are descending the hill of life and facing the western sun. We see and hear of unsteadiness in youth, the young wavering between right and wrong and the current of evil passions proving too strong for them. But we do not look for unsteadiness and unfaithfulness in those of mature years; we expect the character to be established, the principles to be firmly rooted. In many cases this is so, but there are exceptions, as with Solomon.... When his strength should have been the firmest, he was found the weakest of men....      We need to inquire at every step, "Is this the way of the Lord?" As long as life shall last, there is need of guarding the affections and the passions with a firm purpose. There is inward corruption; there are outward temptations, and wherever the work of God shall be advanced, Satan plans to arrange circumstances so that temptation shall come with overpowering force upon the soul....      Many have closed their eyes to danger and have gone on in their own way, infatuated, deluded by Satan until they fall under his temptations. Then they abandon themselves to despair. This was the history of Solomon. But even for him there was help. He truly repented of his course of sin and found help. Let none venture into sin as he did, in the hope that they too may recover themselves. Sin can be indulged only at the peril of infinite loss. But none who have fallen need give themselves up to despair....      The misapplication of noble talents in Solomon's case should be a warning to all. Goodness alone is true greatness. Everyone will transmit a heritage of good or of evil. On the southern eminence of the Mount of Olives were the memorial stones of Solomon's apostasy.... Josiah, the youthful reformer, in his religious zeal destroyed these images of Ashtoreth and Chemosh and Moloch, but the broken fragments and masses of ruins remained opposite Mount Moriah, where stood the temple of God. As strangers in after generations asked, "What mean these ruins confronting the temple of the Lord?" they were answered, "There is Solomon's Mount of Offense, where he built altars for idol worship to please his heathen wives."-Letter 8b, 1891.

Commentary: My friend, Solomon fell into sin because he looked away from God and began to rely upon his own wisdom as a guide.  The example that is given in Scripture regarding his fall is a warning to us all.  Though God has given us strength and talent to do His will, unless we are surrendered fully to Him, seeking after His will in our lives, we will be overcome by the sophistries of Satan. Our only hope is to seek after the wisdom of God and depend wholly upon Him to guide our lives.  When Solomon was first starting out, he recognized his need of the wisdom of God.  After a time however he took the gift of wisdom that God had given him and began to exercise it while ignoring the counsel of God.  One step away from God led to another and yet another until he was far from the source of all wisdom. The same is true today, many of us have started out well, but as we have progressed and prospered we let go of the hand of God and seek our own way.  It is time that we turn away from the things of the world and to return to God and seek after Him.  James 4:8 says "Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you." My friend, the church and as such the people have strayed far away from God.  So much so that they are following after a god that is not of the Bible.  As the church has strayed away from God and unto the wisdom of the world, they have embraced a view of God that is not of the Bible.  The trinity is a false picture of God and as such cannot lead any unto salvation.  It is of the devil and is designed to lead men away from the One true God and separate us from our source of wisdom and strength. If we are to be saved we must turn away from this false god and turn back to the One true God through our connection with Jesus Christ, the Son of the One true God. May you turn unto Him today before it is too late. God bless,

Video of the Week Pagan Origins of the Trinity - Nader Mansour Who are the gods of Babylon? What does that have to do with us in the last days? This presentation deals with the origins of one of the most fatal deceptions prepared for the last days. It might very well challenge you, but you will enjoy it.