All Power Is of God

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 24, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 42.

All Power Is of God.

It is true that all power, all authority, is of God, but it by no means follows that because of this we are in duty bound to submit to its exercise in all things. “There is no power but of God,” even that exercised by Satan. But Satan’s power is not God’s power in the sense that it is exercised by him and he is responsible therefor. Satan and his angels, as well as all men, are intelligent, reasonable, responsible creatures, with wills to choose either the right or the wrong. The life, the power, the influence which each one possesses, God has given him the privilege of using as he will, subject to his finite limitations. But for the exercise of this power both demon and man are held responsible as individuals. Unperverted, its exercise works out good to all. Perverted, it works out death. God never perverts anything, nor from his nature can he do it; for he can not prove false. Power perverted is weakness and evil, and works destruction. Truth perverted is falsehood. Light perverted is darkness. God permits it, but God does not will it. He has given man the privilege of choosing the right or perverting the right; he therefore allows the development of man’s choice, in order not only that the perverted may see that he is reaping the fruit of his own sowing, but that others may be warned and saved.