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TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks About the Tempter (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 041. Some Important "Nots."
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Some Important "Nots."
Now that we may get our eyes trained for keener watching I want to talk with you a bit further about the personal characteristics of this tempter-enemy of ours. We want to know more about him so as to recognize and resist him better.
He is a being of great personal beauty, and with that goes the thought of great attractiveness. Yet it must be noted keenly that it is a spoiled beauty. Nothing mars like selfishness. The more beautiful face may become the most ugly. Sin makes ugly. Satan's beauty has been sadly spoiled, until now it is the false beauty of powder and paint, of gaudy dressing and flashy colours. He comes in a guise of beauty and attractiveness. He has enormous power, and real great dignity. We are told that Michael in dealing with him on one occasion spoke respectfully, as to one in a position of dignity and glory. (Jud_1:9.)
He is at the head of a vast compact organization of spirit-beings, Paul's description of this organization reveals how thoroughly disciplined and organized are the forces at his disposal. (Eph_6:12.) And however the spirit of lawlessness and disregard for authority may permeate all his ranks, there yet is a dominant organization maintained and recognized, for so their purposes can better be achieved.
Paul says our fighting is "against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the hosts of wicked spirits in the heavenlies." The words of highly endowed beings. Satan's personal character is revealed in such a compact organization, the creation of his skill, and being wielded by him.
But, over against that there are certain words to be put down in blackest ink. They tell at once of his limitations. He is not omnipotent, though the power he wields is greater than any of us realize. He is not omnipresent, though the superb organization at his command has sometimes seemed to suggest something of the sort. He has no fore-knowledge, though he is a very shrewd guesser. And he is not omniscient, or knowing all things, though he has gathered great knowledge through the centuries. These traits belong to God only.
Indeed, in contrast with these, it should be said again that he is wholly dependent upon the co-operation of men so far as our lives and the earth is concerned. This is a bit of his inherent weakness.
And, further, a vast deal of the power he does have among us men, he has wholly, either through our foolish ignorance and ignoring of him or through our active (though I think largely unconscious) co-operation with him by the selfishness and sinfulness and compromise in our lives.