defeat on our part gives occasion for him to reproach
Christ.
When Satan quoted the promise, “He shall give His angels charge
over Thee,” he omitted the words, “to keep Thee in all Thy ways;” that
is, in all the ways of God’s choosing. Jesus refused to go outside the
path of obedience. While manifesting perfect trust in His Father, He
would not place Himself, unbidden, in a position that would necessitate
the interposition of His Father to save Him from death. He would not
force Providence to come to His rescue, and thus fail of giving man an
example of trust and submission.
Jesus declared to Satan, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt
the Lord thy God.” These words were spoken by Moses to the children
of Israel when they thirsted in the desert, and demanded that Moses
should give them water, exclaiming, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” [126]
Exodus 17:7. God had wrought marvelously for them; yet in trouble
they doubted Him, and demanded evidence that He was with them.
In their unbelief they sought to put Him to the test. And Satan was
urging Christ to do the same thing. God had already testified that Jesus
was His Son; and now to ask for proof that He was the Son of God
would be putting God’s word to the test,—tempting Him. And the
same would be true of asking for that which God had not promised. It
would manifest distrust, and be really proving, or tempting, Him. We
should not present our petitions to God to prove whether He will fulfill
His word, but because He will fulfill it; not to prove that He loves us,
but because He loves us. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.
But faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has
true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan’s
counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s promises, and brings forth
fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses
them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led
our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands.
Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great
96 The Desire of Ages
love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith
that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions
on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in
the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.
Often when Satan has failed of exciting distrust, he succeeds in
leading us to presumption. If he can cause us to place ourselves
unnecessarily in the way of temptation, he knows that the victory is
his. God will preserve all who walk in the path of obedience; but to
depart from it is to venture on Satan’s ground. There we are sure to
fall. The Saviour has bidden us, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into
temptation.” Mark 14:38. Meditation and prayer would keep us from
rushing unbidden into the way of danger, and thus we should be saved
from many a defeat.
Yet we should not lose courage when assailed by temptation. Often
when placed in a trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has
been leading us. But it was the Spirit’s leading that brought Jesus into
the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. When God brings us into trial,
He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. Jesus did not presume
on God’s promises by going unbidden into temptation, neither did He
[127] give up to despondency when temptation came upon Him. Nor should
[128]
[129]
we. “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that
ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it.” He says, “Offer unto God thanksgiving;
and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of
trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” 1 Corinthians
10:13; Psalm 50:14, 15.
Jesus was victor in the second temptation, and now Satan manifests
himself in his true character. But he does not appear as a hideous
monster, with cloven feet and bat’s wings. He is a mighty angel,
though fallen. He avows himself the leader of rebellion and the God
of this world.
Placing Jesus upon a high mountain, Satan caused the kingdoms
of the world, in all their glory, to pass in panoramic view before Him.
The sunlight lay on templed cities, marble palaces, fertile fields, and
fruit-laden vineyards. The traces of evil were hidden. The eyes of
Jesus, so lately greeted by gloom and desolation, now gazed upon a
scene of unsurpassed loveliness and prosperity. Then the tempter’s
voice was heard: “All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of
Victory 97
them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine.”
Christ’s mission could be fulfilled only through suffering. Before
Him was a life of sorrow, hardship, and conflict, and an ignominious
death. He must bear the sins of the whole world. He must endure
separation from His Father’s love. Now the tempter offered to yield
up the power he had usurped. Christ might deliver Himself from the
dreadful future by acknowledging the supremacy of Satan. But to do
this was to yield the victory in the great controversy. It was in seeking
to exalt himself above the Son of God that Satan had sinned in heaven.
Should he prevail now, it would be the triumph of rebellion.
When Satan declared to Christ, The kingdom and glory of the
world are delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give it, he
stated what was true only in part, and he declared it to serve his
own purpose of deception. Satan’s dominion was that wrested from
Adam, but Adam was the vicegerent of the Creator. His was not an
independent rule. The earth is God’s, and He has committed all things
to His Son. Adam was to reign subject to Christ. When Adam betrayed
his sovereignty into Satan’s hands, Christ still remained the rightful
King. Thus the Lord had said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “The Most
High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He [130]
will.” Daniel 4:17. Satan can exercise his usurped authority only as
God permits.
When the tempter offered to Christ the kingdom and glory of the
world, he was proposing that Christ should yield up the real kingship
of the world, and hold dominion subject to Satan. This was the same
dominion upon which the hopes of the Jews were set. They desired
the kingdom of this world. If Christ had consented to offer them such
a kingdom, they would gladly have received Him. But the curse of sin,
with all its woe, rested upon it. Christ declared to the tempter, “Get
thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord
thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”
By the one who had revolted in heaven the kingdoms of this world
were offered Christ, to buy His homage to the principles of evil; but
He would not be bought; He had come to establish a kingdom of
righteousness, and He would not abandon His purpose. With the same
temptation Satan approaches men, and here he has better success than
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
with Christ. To men he offers the kingdom of this world on condition
98 The Desire of Ages
that they will acknowledge his supremacy. He requires that they
sacrifice integrity, disregard conscience, indulge selfishness. Christ
bids them seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; but
Satan walks by their side and says: Whatever may be true in regard to
life eternal, in order to make a success in this world you must serve
me. I hold your welfare in my hands. I can give you riches, pleasures,
honor, and happiness. Hearken to my counsel. Do not allow yourselves
to be carried away with whimsical notions of hon