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No Place for Sin

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 11, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 6.

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No Place for Sin

By E. K. Slade

E. K. SLADE
He who “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” is the rightful ruler of the universe. He is qualified to rule, and where God is permitted to be in his rightful place, there his kingdom is established. He dwells not only in the “high and holy place,” but in the heart of the loyal subject as well. The heart of every loyal subject is God's throne, where his law, which is the foundation of his throne, is the rule of action in all his subjects. No one less than the Creator is qualified to be such a ruler.
Lucifer's desire to occupy the place of God resulted in robbing God of the place to rule in Lucifer's heart. In doing this, to that extent he dethroned the King of the universe. Every effort of his life and every energy of his being from the time of his fall has been to this one end. By his deception and artful cunning he put himself in the place of God in the heart of Adam and Eve, thus carrying out his purpose as far as this earth and its subjects are concerned. When Christ came to rescue the subjects and their kingdom from this rival ruler, he was caused to meet temptations to the same end, that even the King of kings might give up the throne, and give place to him who rules to ruin.
The gospel, the “mystery of godliness,” is God's plan through Jesus Christ for rescuing his subjects and regaining his throne. “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” the union wrought by the gospel, is but the enthroning of God in the hearts of his children, thus making them fit subjects for his kingdom.
To the same end—the dethroning of God and the defeating of his purpose—as in the temptation of the two Adams, a false gospel is instituted, known as the “mystery of iniquity.” Purporting to be the true way of salvation, its work and end are in keeping with the nature and purpose of its author, as seen in his fall in heaven, and as stated of his nature and work by the prophet, in the following words: “And that man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” What has been said and done by this pretended gospel is understood by all. From the system of personal penance to the blasphemous claims of the pope, the purpose of the rival ruler, seeking to be in the place of God, is clearly seen. In that great struggle when Satan calls to his aid all his host of followers, in whose lives he occupies the place of ruler, he has this one purpose in view, to sit in the seat of God.
Because of the purpose of the rival ruler to rule or ruin, which is to rule and ruin, these words from the rightful Ruler come with special force: “Neither give place to the devil.” To cherish any one thing out of harmony with the law of God, or not to permit him to fill the heart with the fulness of his life, is to give place to the devil, and to that extent dethrone God. He is robbed of that much of his realm, inasmuch as he is not permitted to have his place and way in us. He has no place for sin. His fulness is to fill all, and the place that he is not permitted to fill “shall come to naught.”
In the plan of God no place whatever is provided for sin or for sinners. When Satan and his angels rebelled in heaven, it is stated that they were cast out; “neither was their place found any more in heaven.” When Adam and Eve sinned, they were driven from the garden, the place especially prepared for them. In all the course of time since the fall, men and nations have been permitted to exist that they might seek and find restoration to a place in the kingdom of God as provided in the gospel. Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia were each in turn overthrown, as this privilege ceased to be recognized. The fate of earthly kingdoms, wholly denying God's right to his place, and constituting the realm of the rival ruler, is described by the prophet in the following words: “Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them.” When the New Jerusalem comes down to the earth at the end of the one thousand years, the resurrected wicked will be assembled from every part of the earth. God and the saved will be within the city. At this time “all flesh will see his glory together.” Inspired anew at the sight of God's throne, Satan and his subjects who have given place to him, make the last mighty attempt to overthrow the government of God. The destruction that comes to this rebellious host is stated as follows: “And there was no place found for them.” Satan, with all who gave place to him, proved to the last to be wholly unfit for any place or part in the kingdom of God.
Only those who have refused to give place to the devil will be safe subjects for the kingdom of heaven. There is no place for him, and neither is there place for one who gives place to him; for he is thus, by his own choice, placing himself without the bounds of the kingdom of God, by choosing citizenship and yielding obedience under a ruler whose complete annihilation, with all who give him a chance to rule, will be certain, just, and expedient.
Thus is revealed the enormity of sin. The cherished sin may seem to be innocent and harmless, but its presence in the heart, in that measure gives Satan a realm and a throne. While sin is thus revealed, the love of God is no less made evident by his manner of dealing with the sin and sinner, in providing a gospel by which all heaven is poured out in one gift, that rebellious subjects may be restored to a place in the kingdom. Jesus Christ gave up his place in heaven, and came to this world, in which he had not “where to lay his head.” This he did that he might prepare a place for the lost and homeless ones, and hold out the promise made to Abraham and all Israel of a “sure dwelling-place” for all eternity.
The kingdom of God is soon to have its place in all the earth. In a very short time all rival rule is to be put down, and given no place in all the vast universe. Great intensity is crowded into every remaining moment as that event draws near. But a little longer can we have the opportunity to choose to let him have his place and way in us. While he is preparing a place for us, he wants to prepare us for that place. This he can do only by being permitted to have his place in us. To this end are all the means of grace. For this purpose precious probationary moments are still granted.