p. 43 | Hindered by Satan by MARY MARTIN

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 21, 1874

Hindered by Satan.

By MARY MARTIN

While reading 1 Thess. 2:18, I thought, How many of us have had an experience like that of Paul? How often we have felt like working for the Master, and resolved to do the little we could; but Satan has hindered us so often that instead of golden fruit we have nothing but leaves to bring to Him who has apportioned our labor. We have dear friends, with whom we intended to converse upon the subject of religion, and for whom we have such a deep interest; but there were “angel whisperings”—“they care for none of these things”—“you cannot do the subject justice”—but it was he who transforms himself into an angel of light who gave the caution, and the good we longed to do remained undone, for “Satan hindered us.”

Some have neighbors who are interested to read upon subjects pertaining to their everlasting welfare; and with the printed arguments in their possession, they rejoice that others are willing to investigate, but allow worldly business to so fully occupy their time, that the anxious mind is quieted by some unscriptural sophistry before the light comes, because Satan has hindered those who should be ever at their post.

There are some who start to follow the Saviour with noble resolves and high hopes. For a time the recording angel daily writes “consecration to God” over against their names, in that book whose record will one day be disclosed; but, alas! worldly gain, honor, and fame, attract their attention, and first love dies out as Satan hinders them.

There are those who in early childhood were taught to love and obey God, and were morning and evening carried to him in prayer. They well know the precious promises to those who endure faithful unto the end, and the punishment threatened for lives of sin, and yet are out on the ocean drifting, drifting, without making one effort to escape the whirlpool they are daily nearing. Once eternal life looked precious, but earth’s tinsel has come between their eyes and its heavenly brightness. Satan has hindered them.

As we look about us and see the good we have hoped would be accomplished, and feel that our hopes are farther from fruition to-day than ever before—all because Satan has hindered—with deep anxiety we ask the question, Is there no remedy? In the precious Volume so full of comfort and instruction for every one under all circumstances, we read, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Be it our earnest, continual endeavor to live so near to God, with so much light from Heaven falling upon our pathway, that the great deceiver who loves darkness rather than light may be driven from our presence, and we not be “hindered” in the short but perilous journey before us.

MARY MARTIN.