Our Imperishable Inheritance by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 8, 1909

Our Imperishable Inheritance

By C. M. S.

A Stranger in the Universe

Into the capital of the universe there came one day a stranger—Death. This intruder was not there through invitation of the Master of the house. No fiat from divinity went forth for his creation. He was not created, but evolved. In the cozy waves of the turbid sea of jealousy there was developed the protoplasm, the ameba, the protozoan, and finally the full-finished monster itself, able to rise upon its feet and stalk abroad among the children of the realm.

Every occupant of the realm, save this one, was created by the mighty power of God. This one alone was evolved. The sea of jealousy which brought it forth surged in the heart of one of God's bright beings. One unholy thought harbored developed into this stranger, who has flung his poisoned shafts at every creature in the household, even at the very Son of God himself.

Lucifer, the light-bearer, beautiful of face and form, standing next to the throne of God, nurtured that malignant thought. Said God to the Son, “Let us make man in our image.” Said Lucifer to himself: “A slight has been put upon me. I, the beautiful one, the shining, the gorgeous one, why am I excluded from this council? I will be avenged.”

Says Jehovah concerning the one who fostered this evil purpose: “Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering; . . . Thou wast the anointed cherub that covereth; and I set thee, so that thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till unrighteousness was found in thee. . . .

Therefore have I cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I have destroyed thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Eze. 28: 12-17.

The truly humble and righteous soul rejoices in every good that comes to another; but selfishness, envious and evil-eyed, sits watching like a bird of prey, ready to strike beak or talon into whatever bequest of good may come to another. Selfishness grows with every gratification of its appetite. It builds on the ruins of others' hopes and happiness, and the taller it grows, the more it sees to stimulate its desire.

Thus, to Lucifer, honored of heaven, standing by the very throne of God, there came the temptation to covet the honor bestowed upon the Son. He had allowed himself to dwell upon his own beauty and glory until that occupation had “corrupted” his wisdom. The fact that he was not called into the council was evidence to him of a biased judgment on the part of the Ruler of heaven. As he dwelt upon his fancied wrongs, his purpose took shape, and this was the scope of it as revealed by Inspiration:—

“Thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the outermost parts of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Isa. 14: 13, 14.

Here was open rebellion against the government of the universe. Lucifer had broken the command, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me;” for he was worshiping himself. He dishonored the Father of all by stealing away the affection of heavenly beings from the Author of their being, and starting a rebellion in the household of heaven. He broke the command, “Thou shalt not covet,” by coveting the place and power of the very One who gave the command. He broke the command which forbids false witness by falsely accusing his Maker to the rest of heaven's inhabitants. He broke the command, “Thou shalt not kill,” by instituting a work which could end only in death—the death of himself, and of all the angels and men who have permitted themselves to be deceived by him.

Such a campaign could not be permitted forever. For the safety of the universe it was necessary that he be “cast . . . as profane out of the mountain of God.” But he did not go alone. By his beauty and his persuasive eloquence he had won a host to his standard. This is shown in the fact that he felt himself sufficiently strong to give battle within the precincts of heaven to the hosts that would not prove false to the government of God. So we read: “There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels; and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.” Rev. 12: 7-9. It is of this same company that Jude speaks: “And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” Jude 6. And Christ, speaking of the day of Satan's expulsion from heaven, said: “I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven.” Luke 10: 18.

Satan's entrance, with his expatriated followers, into the new-created earth was synchronous with the entrance of sin. He was sin personified, and sin was his mission here. He took up his business in earth where he left it off in heaven. There he was contemning God, breaking his law, accusing him before his creatures. He had coveted God's position in heaven; he coveted man's position in the earth. He was cast out of heaven for the work he did there; he will one day be cast out of the earth for the work he has done here; but that casting out will be by the destruction of himself and his hosts. That is shown in Christ's mission to this earth: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Heb. 2: 14. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3: 8. And Christ's work for man is consummated in the great event described in the following scriptures: “The devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.” Rev. 20: 10. “Behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Mal. 4: 1.

God made man the prince of the new-made world. This is his commission: “God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Gen. 1: 28. That left nothing in the earth not subject to man's control. Under God, his rule was absolute. But Satan was not forbidden to enter here. Man, who was “made a little lower than the angels,” must bear the same test the angels had borne. Man was not unwarned. Loyalty to God is the test alike of angels and of men. Will man be loyal to his Maker, or yield to the false accusations of a fallen prince of heaven against his Maker?

“Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2: 16, 17. The prohibition is plain; the penalty is explicit; there is no excuse for disobedience. But the fallen angel is there with a sneer and a falsehood. “Yea,” or aha, said he, “hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?” When the answer to the sneering question is given, Satan is ready with his bold contradiction of God. God had said, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Satan said, “Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.” Gen. 3: 4, 5. In this there was a little truth mixed with a terrible falsehood. Hitherto they had known only the good; now they knew evil as well. And their eyes were opened to see what they need never have seen; that is, death and all that leads up to it. A stranger—a most hideous and unwelcome sojourner—was to be with them and their posterity to the end of time. C. M. S.