32 . Deadly Tricks and Snares Exposed
The great controversy between Christ and Satan , that has been carried forward for nearly six thousand years , is soon to close ; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ in man ' s behalf and to fasten souls in his snares . To hold the people in darkness and impenitence till the Saviour ' s mediation is ended , and there is no longer a sacrifice for sin , is the object which he seeks to accomplish . When there is no special effort made to resist his power , when indifference prevails in the church and the world , Satan is not concerned ; for he is in no danger of losing those whom he is leading captive at his will . But when the attention is called to eternal things , and souls are inquiring , " What must I do to be saved ?" he is on the ground , seeking to match his power against the power of Christ and to counteract the influence of the Holy Spirit .
The Scriptures declare that upon one occasion , when the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord , Satan came also among them ( Job 1:6 ), not to bow before the Eternal King , but to further his own malicious designs against the righteous . With the same object he is in attendance when men assemble for the worship of God . Though hidden from sight , he is working with all diligence to control the minds of the worshipers . Like a skillful general he lays his plans beforehand . As he sees the messenger of God searching the Scriptures , he takes note of the subject to be presented to the people . Then he employs all his cunning and shrewdness so to control circumstances that the message may not reach those whom he is deceiving on that very point . The one who most needs the warning will be urged into some business transaction which requires his presence , or will by some other means be prevented from hearing the words that might prove to him a savor of life unto life .
Again , Satan sees the Lord ' s servants burdened because of the spiritual darkness that enshrouds the people . He hears their earnest prayers for divine grace and power to break the spell of indifference , carelessness , and indolence . Then with renewed zeal he plies his arts . He tempts men to the indulgence of appetite or to some other form of self-gratification , and thus benumbs their sensibilities so that they fail to hear the very things which they most need to learn .
Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the searching of the Scriptures , will be overcome by his attacks . Therefore he invents every possible device to engross the mind . There has ever been a class professing godliness , who , instead of following on to know the truth , make it their religion to seek some fault of character or error of faith in those with whom they do not agree . Such are Satan ' s right-hand helpers . Accusers of the
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