Satan’s Last Resort

By Camron Schofield, Audio: mp3

The Bible describes the devil as a roaring lion roaming to and fro in the earth seeking whom he may devour. It is a harsh reality that he is always on our track. He is always trying to take us out in ways in which the angels deliver us from which we are not going to know until we get to heaven. I can give testimony and praise to the Lord this week I hopped out of the car, crossed the road to open a gate to go into a park. I turned around to walk back to my car and without thinking I didn’t look right but I looked left. As I stepped out onto the road, my hat blew off and it wasn’t even windy. As I turned around to pick my hat up off the ground, just as I was about to step out there was a honk and a car drove straight past. The Lord delivered me from being hit by a car by blowing my hat off. This to me was a revelation of how dangerous is the time in which we live and that we need to be very much on guard and diligent in our Christian walk. Not just in making sure we look left and right in the things of this world that we see, but even taking heed in the spiritual realms.

Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures. {GC 624.1}

As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!” The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is “the great power of God.” Acts 8:10. {GC 624.2}

This delusion is looming up right before us. The false second coming of Jesus Christ where Lucifer will change himself into an angel of light and come to convince man that the laws have been changed. Christ warned of these false Christs.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

This great delusion will almost overmaster everyone in this entire world except for the elect. By the words that Jesus Christ uses, it demonstrates to us that this is a strong deception. If it were possible the elect would be deceived.

But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled wrath shall be poured out. {GC 625.1}

 And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ’s advent. The Saviour has warned His people against deception upon this point, and has clearly foretold the manner of His second coming. “There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. . . . Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth; behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:24-27, 31; 25:31; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. This coming there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will be universally known–witnessed by the whole world. {GC 625.2}

There will be those who will detect the falseness of His appearing.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

If the only ones who will not be deceived are the elect, then we must be diligent to make sure of our election. If we do those things we shall never fall; you will never fall under this powerful delusion.

Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation the genuine Christian will be revealed. {GC 625.3}

Here is the question we all need to answer for ourselves:

Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? {GC 625.3}

Have you replaced your whole sensory faculties with the word of God? We need to, we must. Our senses are the electrical and chemical responses and feelings we have inside our bodies. These will generate thoughts and those thoughts are dangerous. Our thoughts must be replaced with a thus saith the Lord. Whatever comes in through our physical and electrical and chemical receptors, must be seen through a thus saith the Lord.

 Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life and the day of trial may come upon them as a thief. {GC 625.3}

Lucifer knows that if we will be diligent to make that election sure we will not be deceived in that time so he wants to distract us from that preparation. What kind of things will he do to distract us?

…entangle them with earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life. {GC 625.3}

What kind of wearisome burdens?

 As the people of God approach the perils of the last days, Satan holds earnest consultation with his angels as to the most successful plan of overthrowing their faith. He sees that the popular churches are already lulled to sleep by his deceptive power. By pleasing sophistry and lying wonders he can continue to hold them under his control. Therefore he directs his angels to lay their snares especially for those who are looking for the second advent of Christ and endeavoring to keep all the commandments of God. {TM 472.1}

Those that he has already got he practically ignores because he has them snared. He lays his snares especially for those who are looking for the second coming of Christ.

 Says the great deceiver: “We must watch those who are calling the attention of the people to the Sabbath of Jehovah; they will lead many to see the claims of the law of God; and the same light which reveals the true Sabbath reveals also the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, and shows that the last work for man’s salvation is now going forward. Hold the minds of the people in darkness till that work is ended, and we shall secure the world and the church also. {TM 472.2}

“But our principal concern is to silence this sect of Sabbath keepers. We must excite popular indignation against them. We will enlist great men and worldly-wise men upon our side, and induce those in authority to carry out our purposes. Then the sabbath which I have set up shall be enforced by laws the most severe and exacting. Those who disregard them shall be driven out from the cities and villages, and made to suffer hunger and privation. When once we have the power, we will show what we can do with those who will not swerve from their allegiance to God. We led the Romish church to inflict imprisonment, torture, and death upon those who refused to yield to her decrees; and now that we are bringing the Protestant churches and the world into harmony with this right arm of our strength, we will finally have a law to exterminate all who will not submit to our authority. When death shall be made the penalty of violating our sabbath, then many who are now ranked with commandment keepers will come over to our side.

     “But before proceeding to these extreme measures, we must exert all our wisdom and subtlety to deceive and ensnare those who honor the true Sabbath. We can separate many from Christ by worldliness, lust, and pride. They may think themselves safe because they believe the truth, but indulgence of appetite or the lower passions, which will confuse judgment and destroy discrimination, will cause their fall. {TM473.2}

“Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with the cares of this life. Present the world before them in its most attractive light, that they may lay up their treasure here and fix their affections upon earthly things. We must do our utmost to prevent those who labor in God’s cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep the money in our own ranks. The more means they obtain, the more they will injure our kingdom by taking from us our subjects. Make them care more for money than for the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God’s people. {TM 473.3}

   “Through those that have a form of godliness but know not the power, we can gain many who would otherwise do us harm. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will be our most effective helpers. Those of this class who are apt and intelligent will serve as decoys to draw others into our snares. Many will not fear their influence, because they profess the same faith. We will thus lead them to conclude that the requirements of Christ are less strict than they once believed, and that by conformity to the world they would exert a greater influence with worldlings. Thus they will separate from Christ; then they will have no strength to resist our power, and erelong they will be ready to ridicule their former zeal and devotion. {TM 474.1}

 ”I will have upon the ground, as my agents, men holding false doctrines mingled with just enough truth to deceive souls. I will also have unbelieving ones present who will express doubts in regard to the Lord’s messages of warning to His church. Should the people read and believe these admonitions, we could have little hope of overcoming them. But if we can divert their attention from these warnings, they will remain ignorant of our power and cunning, and we shall secure them in our ranks at last. God will not permit His words to be slighted with impunity. If we can keep souls deceived for a time, God’s mercy will be withdrawn, and He will give them up to our full control. {TM 475.1}

Here he expands on his whole program to ensnare God’s people right at the last minute, so that they will fall under that grand deception.

This is Satan’s last resort and most powerful weapon when all the above will fail:

   “We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. For these sins, God banished us from His presence; and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate.” {TM 475.2}

Did you know that he is a deceiver? He works quietly and silently behind the scenes. He will cause distraction and division very subtly. Those who will permit themselves to be distracted and divided will fall under that delusion. They will fail of the election. This is what he wants.

Are you ready for Jesus to come? Are you ready for Satan to come with all of his delusions? Are you on guard and being diligent to his insinuations? If it were possible, the very elect would be deceived in human relations and his interference in that.

Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, [which] go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Do you remember the story of the emperor and his new clothes? There was a powerful king, an emperor and these merchant men came to him and said they will make some clothing which is magical, that you will hardly be able to see it but to the wise and noble they will see the most majestic gown and everybody will look upon you and bow in adoration. So the emperor was deceived and they clothed him with nothing. He walked out into the street completely naked. All the people were lined along the street and as he walked through them the people laughed and jeered. A little child said, “Mummy, mummy, the emperor has no clothes on.”

How easy is it for us to be deceived? That is just a story, but it is a story that applies directly to this admonition. We are to watch and keep our garments lest we walk naked and they see our shame. We can think we are safe and are clothed. The devil can convince us of such, but the reality is we are naked. We must in that day be clothed, as we understand it, in the garments of Christ’s righteousness, of Christ’s right doing.

Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

This is the clothing, which we are to be dressed with. To make our calling and election sure, we must watch that we are clothed with this garment of a new man. What does it mean to put on the new man?

Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

To make our calling and election sure we are to be diligent to put on this new man.

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Those who will be deceived will be those who do not mortify their members that are upon the earth.

Colossians 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

3:10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.

3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.

3:14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

If it were possible the devil would deceive even the very elect, therefore we are called to be diligent to make our calling and election sure. If we are the elect of God, we will put on bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another and forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven us.

The great grand delusion of the false second coming is the culmination of every delusion beforehand. If we are permitting ourselves to be deceived by Satan in our interactions with one another we will fall. We are to be diligent to have bowels of mercy, to be diligent to be kind, to be diligent in humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another and forgiving one another. It’s so easy for us to be diligent in how we dress, to be diligent in what we eat, but above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

As we read in the chapter ‘the snares of Satan’ he will get those who look right and those who eat right, but on the inside are not clothed as the elect of God. Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications, this is all the old man and if we cherish those we will be deceived.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

13:35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.  

This is an order He gives because He sees what is coming, He knows how strong the delusions of Satan will be and already are.

By this will you be sure of your election. The elect of God are those who love one another as He has loved them. This is so contrary to our mentality. He doesn’t want us in our human minds to put our interpretation of love upon it, He says, ‘As I have loved you, that ye also love one another’.

The love of man is not as the love of God. The love of man is much the opposite. The love of man is reflected in this old civil statute that was given to the Israelites.

Exodus 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

21:25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

This is human love. Whatever you have done to me I am going to do it back to you.

Leviticus 24:19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;

24:20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him [again].

If you poke my eye out, I will poke your eye out. If you break my arm, I will break your arm. If you hurt me, I will hurt you. This is human love. As soon as someone causes an offence against me, my first reaction is to cause an offence to them, payback. This is human love let us not deny that. This is not the love of God.

The wise man Solomon who was taught much wisdom from God says:

Proverbs 24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work

Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

I am certain that the Jews in His day did not appreciate these words. I’ve just been smitten on this cheek and my jawbone on this side is snapped off and you want me to turn the other cheek and break the other one? This is very different to what we would think to not react. One of our biggest problems is self-justification. It may not be a physical contact that comes to us, but our reaction is that we have to make them understand the situation, or we have to justify our actions. Did Jesus ever do that? We are to love as He loved.

Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Jesus didn’t try to recoil or escape, He gave His back to the smiters.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

There was no murmur or complaint. He didn’t deserve anything He got, yet like a sheep before his shearers is dumb so He opened not His mouth.

One of our biggest problems is that the devil works little deceptions and he puts thoughts in each others minds and we give heed to those thoughts then they lead us into a trial or tribulation and there in our midst a grief. Our first reaction is to try to justify self. It doesn’t matter how evil we may have been in the matter, we will try to justify ourselves. If we weren’t evil but perfectly guiltless we still want to justify ourselves. Jesus closed His mouth and said nothing. Perhaps we can think back to how often we have justified ourselves. Frequently? I do. As always, what I am sharing is for me. As soon as someone crosses my path I feel like lashing out. One of the ways I want to lash out is by clarifying the situation. The true winner is the one that just lets it be.

A few weeks ago in the Sabbath School lesson we looked at what meekness is – a doormat, someone who gets walked over. Except when it came to principle they walked all over Jesus Christ. They spat in His face, they reviled Him, and they accused Him. He just took it all. He said nothing.

The devil likes to play games. After he has played his game and it’s gone according to his liking he has a good laugh about it. He had nothing to laugh about when it came to Christ.

1 Peter 2:20 For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.

2:21 For even hereunto were ye called:

Be diligent when you are called to suffer.

1 Peter 2:21 because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

When He was reviled, He reviled not. There was no reaction, no response, no justification, nothing. He committed Himself to Him that judges righteously. God knows the fact of the matter and He left it with Him.

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth.

8:34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

God’s elect will not justify themselves, they will be diligent to not react, to not self justify, they will be diligent to close their mouth and leave it with God. It is God that justifieth.

Matthew 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?

5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Love thy neighbour, hate thine enemy, isn’t that human love? But Jesus says love your enemies, bless them that persecute you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. Diligence is required, because this is so hard. It is not hard if we look to Jesus Christ.

Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Why did they crucify Him? They cried out ‘Crucify him, crucify him’, they asked for it. But as they did this He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Why did they not know what they were doing? Jesus understood the snares of Satan. He understood that Satan is a deceiver and he comes as an angel of light. If those who were crucifying Him had understood the reality they would not have crucified Him.

We are called to pray for those, which spitefully use us, to bless those that curse us, to do good to them that hate us because they do not know what they are doing. In our own midst when we have an offence, pray for them because they don’t know what they are doing. Those who put their foot out and trip us up, those who may distract us, those who may grieve us; pray for them. Don’t get annoyed at them, don’t react, don’t try to justify yourself in your situation, say “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” They are deceived. If we react we show that we are deceived.

Matthew 5:45 …for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

While we were yet unloving and unlovely in character, “hateful, and hating one another,” our heavenly Father had mercy on us. “After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:3-5. His love received, will make us, in like manner, kind and tender, not merely toward those who please us, but to the most faulty and erring and sinful. {MB 75.1}

What is mercy? Undeserved, we deserved something that was the opposite of mercy.

 The children of God are those who are partakers of His nature. It is not earthly rank, nor birth, nor nationality, nor religious privilege, which proves that we are members of the family of God; it is love, a love that embraces all humanity. {MB 75.2}

You can’t be born into the family of God like that it doesn’t work that way. All the truths we have, all the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy will not make you a child of God. It is love that embraces all humanity.

How easy it is for us to think we just have to love the brethren, the members of the church.

Even sinners whose hearts are not utterly closed to God’s Spirit, will respond to kindness; while they may give hate for hate, they will also give love for love. But it is only the Spirit of God that gives love for hatred. To be kind to the unthankful and to the evil, to do good hoping for nothing again, is the insignia of the royalty of heaven, the sure token by which the children of the Highest reveal their high estate.  {MB 75.2}

Matthew 5:48. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

We like wages we like to get paid. Surely if I help the old lady across the road she can leave me something in her will. An insignia is like a badge, the token that shows you that you are a child of God – it is to be kind to the unthankful and kind to the evil, to do good hoping for nothing; to give love for hatred.

Love one another as I have loved you. You are a sinner. You didn’t know Him, you didn’t care less about Him, and you spat in His face time and time again. God had to crucify His Son for you, but He still loves us. He forgives you.

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.

6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

This is something to be diligent in, because if we want to make our election and calling sure, we must have the forgiveness of sin, but only will we receive forgiveness of sins from the Father as we forgive others. We would all do well to understand what it means for God to forgive. He casts all the sins into the depths of the sea and to Him it is as though they were never committed. How far do we fall short; we say forgiven but not forgotten.

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

What you treat others like you will receive likewise. Therefore we should be diligent in measuring out kindness, mercy, longsuffering. If we measure out judgment we will be judged, if we measure out criticism we ourselves will be criticised.

In this great day of atonement our work is that of heart-searching, of self-abasement, and confession of sin, each humbling his own soul before God, and seeking pardon for himself individually. Anciently every one that did not on the day of atonement afflict his soul, was cut off from the people. God would have us work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. If each will search and see what sins are lurking in his own heart to shut out Jesus, he will find such a work to do that he will be ready to esteem others better than himself. He will no longer seek to pluck the mote out of his brother’s eye while a beam is in his own eye. {HS 213.3}

This is fasting on the Day of Atonement; to search our hearts to see what sins are lurking in our hearts and we will find such a work to do that we will be ready to esteem others better than ones self.

He will no longer seek to pluck the mote out of his brother’s eye while a beam is in his own eye Let no Christian be found an accuser of the brethren. Satan is the one who bears this title; {HS 213.3,4}

If we accuse each other that is not just Satanic that is Satan.

he accuses them before God day and night, he stirs up the enemies of our faith to accuse us, and he prompts those of like precious faith to criticise and condemn one another. We are not to take part in his work. These are days of trial and of great peril, the adversary of souls is upon the track of every one; and while we stand out separate from the world, we should press together in faith and love. United, we are strong; divided, we are weak. {HS 213.4}

His plan is to distract and to separate, to divide.

   We are exhorted to love as brethren, to be kind, courteous, forbearing, in honor preferring one another. Love for God and for one another constitutes the divine credentials which the children of God bear to the world. “By this,” said Jesus, “shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Those who cherish this love will sacredly guard the interests of one another. No evil reports will be carried; tattling and gossip will cease; Christ and the truth will be magnified.  {HS 214.1}

Are we ready to stand the great delusion?

None who continue to cherish a querulous, fault-finding disposition can enter heaven; for they would mar its peace and harmony. They will be left outside the city of God, with all who stir up strife. Nor should they be permitted to remain in the church to prevent unity and destroy its usefulness. Let them be reproved, and if they do not change their course, let them be separated from the church. But all may, if they will, conquer these evil traits. The members of the church should pledge themselves to walk together in harmony. Each should set a guard over his own heart, not permitting himself to think evil of his brethren, but giving them credit for all the good qualities they possess. We should store the mind with the precious promises and instructions of God’s word. When Satan seeks to divert the attention to things of no profit, then we should think and talk of these heavenly promises, and the tempter will be vanquished. By thus battling day by day, with earnest prayer and determined faith, all may gain the victory. Those who have most to overcome will be like the sinner to whom Christ forgave much, and who loved much; and they will at last stand nearest to the throne. {HS 214.2}

That is motivation. We should think and talk of these precious promises.

None who continue to cherish a querulous, fault-finding disposition can enter heaven; {HS 214.2}

They are deceived and they will be destroyed.

Each one of God’s people are to be diligent in examining their own hearts, to be diligent in esteeming others better than their own selves.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Lord, Lord my dress was always to the right length and I wore boots so my ankles wouldn’t be seen. Lord, Lord, I ate only healthful food. Lord, Lord, I was careful what music I listened to, I was careful about influences of family and friends. All these things ought to be done, we must be diligent in this, but they will not save us.

Diligence in health reform, dress reform, all these life reforms in the outward life will not save us from the grand delusion. Only as we love as Christ has loved us. The whole purpose of the dress, the whole purpose of health is to increase our spiritual perceptions in beholding that love. As you cover up your physical frame you don’t get distracted by how you might look. As you layer on according to the climate you don’t have to worry about how cold or hot it is. As you eat and cut certain substances out of your diet, your mind becomes clearer and your spiritual perceptions become sharper. This is the purpose of being diligent in these things.

The real diligence is to behold God’s love toward me in a way in which I am willing to reflect it upon the entire world. If we will be diligent to make that calling and election sure it will not be possible for us to be deceived. May the Lord in His mercy help us to get our priorities right, to focus our mental energies on the things that matter and may He in His mercy and longsuffering forgive us all.

Amen.