only aroused a spirit of resistance . Lucifer allowed jealousy of Christ to prevail , and he became the more determined .
Pride in his own glory nourished the desire for supremacy . The high honors conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as the gift of God and called forth no gratitude to the Creator . He gloried in his brightness and exaltation , and aspired to be equal with God . He was beloved and reverenced by the heavenly host . Angels delighted to execute his commands , and he was clothed with wisdom and glory above them all . Yet the Son of God was the acknowledged Sovereign of heaven , one in power and authority with the Father . In all the councils of God , Christ was a participant , while Lucifer was not permitted thus to enter into the divine purposes . " Why ," questioned this mighty angel , " should Christ have the supremacy ? Why is He thus honored above Lucifer ?"
Leaving his place in the immediate presence of God , Lucifer went forth to diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels . Working with mysterious secrecy , and for a time concealing his real purpose under an appearance of reverence for God , he endeavored to excite dissatisfaction concerning the laws that governed heavenly beings , intimating that they imposed an unnecessary restraint . Since their natures were holy , he urged that the angels should obey the dictates of their own will . He sought to create sympathy for himself by representing that God had dealt unjustly with him in bestowing supreme honor upon Christ . He claimed that in aspiring to greater power and honor he was not aiming at self-exaltation , but was seeking to secure liberty for all the inhabitants of heaven , that by this means they might attain to a higher state of existence .
God in His great mercy bore long with Lucifer . He was not immediately degraded from his exalted station when he first indulged the spirit of discontent , nor even when he began to present his false claims before the loyal angels . Long was he retained in heaven . Again and again he was offered pardon on condition of repentance and submission . Such efforts as only infinite love and wisdom could devise were made to convince him of his error . The spirit of discontent had never before been known in heaven . Lucifer himself did not at first see whither he was drifting ; he did not understand the real nature of his feelings . But as his dissatisfaction was proved to be without cause , Lucifer was convinced that he was in the wrong , that the divine claims were just , and that he ought to acknowledge them as such before all heaven . Had he done this , he might have saved himself and many angels . He had not at this time fully cast off his allegiance to God . Though he had forsaken his position as covering cherub , yet if he had been willing to return to God , acknowledging the Creator ' s wisdom , and satisfied to fill the place appointed him in God ' s great plan , he would have been reinstated in his office . But
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