Peace And Goodwill Towards Men. Part [7] 12/30/2023 (Evening thought)

Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covers; and I have set thee so: thou was upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee.

[Desire of Ages pp 759] God could have destroyed Satan and his sympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebble to the earth; but He did not do this. Compelling power is found only under Satan's government. The Lord's principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God's government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power.

God’s hand of mercy was stretched forth to save any and all who would be willing, and therefore, the use of force as a last resort, was an effort to protect the angels who chose to serve God willingly. If in a certain household, one child keeps bringing home drugs like fentanyl and other opioids, trying to get the other kids to indulge, then the parents will have to act sooner or later, lest all of the kids end up as drug addicts. So, let’s reiterate our first point:

The foundational principle of peace and good will is love, not the kind that seeks one’s own benefit, but rather seeks the good and wellbeing of others first. In practical ways, this godly principle could only be truly manifested when Christ is in the heart, for the principle itself is foreign to fallen human nature. In situations where a choice has to be made between personal benefit, and the benefit of others, the one who is in Christ will defer to the other without any grudges or bad feelings.

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

Peace And Goodwill Towards Men. Part [6] 12/29/2023 (Morning thought)

Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 40>41] Rejecting with disdain the arguments and entreaties of the loyal angels, he denounced them as deluded slaves. The preference shown to Christ he declared as an act of injustice both to himself and to all the heavenly host. And he announced that he would no longer submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs.

He determined to claim the honor which should have been given him, and take command of all who would become his followers; and he promised those who would enter his ranks a new and better form of government, under which all would enjoy freedom.

Sounds familiar? If it does, then we may know for sure that peace and good will is something we will have to work really hard for. But Jesus on the other hand would only use ways and means that selfless love can employ. He pleaded with Lucifer and those who were withering under his influence, to change course.

James 3:14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!