SATAN AS AN EDUCATOR by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 7, 1903

SATAN AS AN EDUCATOR.

By G.

SATAN is an educator. He began to educate the human race in the very beginning, and his first lesson was of the false science order. It was designed to belittle the God who created all things, and to exalt the creature. “Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” was his sneering, insinuating question. The pupil answered:—

“We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”

Having succeeded in getting his pupil’s attention, Satan quickly took advantage of it, and boldly asserted:—

“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.”

This cunning teacher employed the “cramming process,” or, rather, the short, cheap course, of education. He held before Eve the glorious prospect of graduation, of a rise to the highest grade of knowledge, in a day. And all along the history of mankind this system of education—away from God—has been persistently carried on, through a perversion of truth. The enemy of truth gives special attention to science and religion. Satan’s education, having the one purpose to deceive, is varied according to circumstances in order to catch all classes. He encourages his pupils to believe anything they choose, as long as it is not the truth. Jesus says of him: “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8: 44.

As a teacher of science, some of his pupils believe the world to be flat, resting on a big turtle, or on great elephants, with equally absurd theories of its creation. Others believe that it evolved from small particles of nebulous matter, and came into form and regular motion without the direction of any special intelligence. Space will not permit an enumeration of the many fallacious theories designed to overthrow the Word of God. Any theory is admissible that will teach that God did not make heaven and earth, and all that in them is, in six days.

As a theologian, Satan is equally untruthful and inconsistent. At first his ideal attainment of knowledge was to be as God, knowing good and evil. However, this teaching was for one who personally knew of the existence of God. Later on, people who had not enjoyed that personal experience were taught that there was no God. These were led to worship the sun, moon, stars, and all manner of creatures, living and dead, and even idols of their own make and imagination.

But there are those who would adhere to the Word of God to the extent of believing that there is a supreme Intelligence that created and upholds all things; and even these are provided with perverted truth. These are scientifically and religiously informed that God is in everything. Ah! that is pleasing indeed! Surely that is honoring God in the highest degree! But it is simply a revamp of the no-God doctrine, for it leaves out His personality. It puts Him everywhere in general, but nowhere in particular. And the result is practically the same as before—adoration of everything, with the variation that God is in it.

The motive for humane treatment of men is that the “life of God” is in them; tenderness toward animals and birds is enjoined because the “life of God” is in them; praises are sung to the plants and flowers because the “life of God” is in them, etc. Yes, God gives life and breath to all things, but it is a perversion of this fact to say that the “life of God” is in them all. The life of God is eternal life; and it cost the great sacrifice of His Son that even such creatures as are capable of believing, and are willing to believe in Him, might have that life. Every other creature and plant on the earth has the curse of sin upon it, and God does not curse His own life.

“All flesh is as grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth.” Does the life of God wither and fall?—Nay, verily; “the Word of the Lord abideth forever.” 1 Peter 1: 24, 25. Even the highest order of beings on earth, even the creature made in the image of God, such an one in his natural condition is “alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” Eph. 4: 18, 19. And this alienation from the life of God is because of the perversion of truth in the university of Satan.

“But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus.” Verses 20, 21. The prophecy from which Peter quotes, says that “the grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the Lord bloweth upon it; surely the people are grass.” Isa. 40: 7. The Lord does not blow upon His own life. The life of God is only obtained by personal acquaintance with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. John 17: 3. G.