Lessons in Liberty by W. M. Healey

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 3, 1911

Lessons in Liberty

By W. M. Healey

Divine Characters and Principles

LIBERTY is the fundamental principle of God's kingdom, the foundation of His government, which is from "everlasting to everlasting." Ps. 106:48.

Both God the Father and Christ the Son are self-existing, and together possess all the power of the universe.

Isaiah, writing of Christ at the time when He should be brought into this world in human form, says, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isa. 9:6.

While this scripture attributes all power to Christ, He said of the Father, and taught us to say of Him, "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever." Matt. 6:13.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Rom. 13:1.

Micah says of Christ, "Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5:2.

The Father and the Son have the same glory and power. They are one in every purpose and work.

Christ exercised the creative power in making the worlds. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." Heb. 1:1, 2.

For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him. Col. 1:16.

All the angels were created by Him, and fashioned according to His will; and to them He gave the liberty to choose whether they would worship Him or not. This wonderful power to choose in the matter of worship was bestowed upon man as well as the angels.

Rebellion against Just Government

There came a time when many angels, led by Lucifer, afterward called Satan, decided to rebel against God, and no longer serve and worship Him. Their work is briefly described in the following language:

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the North: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isa. 14:12-15.

Lucifer rebelled against God's government, that he might set up a kingdom of his own, which would be established upon principles opposed to those of God's kingdom. The nature of his dominion may be easily understood by his own nature, his subjects being like him. When Christ was speaking to those who were seeking to take His life because of His religious teaching, He said:

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. 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.

While the keeping of the law of God was the rule in all His kingdom, the breaking of it was the doctrine taught by Satan. God would uphold the Ten Commandments; Satan would abolish them.

God gave all, the choice of being obedient, or not, to His law; but if disobedient, they would have no place in His kingdom. Christ created all the worlds in the universe, and all were obedient to His law. Where could Satan find territory to set up his new kingdom? He could not create a world, as he did not possess creative power; hence he was not able to provide a place for himself. Having no place to go, he tried to take possession of heaven by force, and compel all to worship him, giving no choice in the matter.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. Rev. 12:7, 8.

Jesus said, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Luke 10:18.

There was no continued war, there was no long drawn out battle. When Satan tried to compel those to worship him who did not choose to do so, the mighty Creator arose in power, and Satan was cast out, as it were in a moment, like a lightning flash, and his glory was departed, and darkness followed him.

God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. 2 Peter 2:4.

Christ was defending the principle of liberty there in heaven, while Satan was the first to endeavor to break it down and compel worship by force. Jesus to-day says, "Whosoever will, let him come." This is the Gospel of salvation, while Satan tries to compel all to worship him.

Satan, being cast from heaven, made his way to this world, where Adam had possession. What could he do? He had tried to use force while in heaven, and had been cast out. He was helpless against Christ, who protected His subjects in their liberty of choice.