If Thou Be the Son of God

The devil then carried him into an exceeding high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory thereof, in a moment of time, and said, “All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”

This temptation also, in degree, is common to the child of God. Ah here is riches and glory, and fame and pleasure! how many of the Lord’s dear children have looked and longed and staggered and fallen down and worshiped Satan and made shipwrecks of faith and all spiritual good and joy for this life? What Christian has not been upon some high mountain of imagi­nation and beheld the glory and thirsted for the pleasure of possession of worldly wealth? And never one but what the devil was there—indeed, unawares, had led them there—to promise to supply, if they would fall down and worship him. How many in business has he told, “If you will equivocate and lie a little here and cheat and defraud a little there, and not be so conscientious and trusting in God, I will give you to reap a rich reward in money?” No doubt but he is bold enough to tell some they ought to lie and cheat and defraud and deceive in common with others of like business occupation, in self defense, and that if there is any harm in it, the guilt is with those who originated the custom. And he will tell you that people expect you to do so, and that otherwise you will make nothing. But, dear children of God, consider the Apostle of your profession:

God gives no such latitude; it is a falling down, and a falling down to worship Satan. Jesus gave the only right and safe answer, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Then Jesus was carried to the holy city and on the pinnacle of the temple, and the devil said, “If thou be the Son of God cast thyself down, for it is written he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, lest at any time thou clash thy foot against a stone:

Herein, also, is every child of God tempted, and some, I think, cast themselves down before fully understanding the nature, degree and origin of the temptation. Let all know that any suggestion corresponding to the above is of the devil. To how many is this suggestion, “If I am a child of God, I am saved; and if saved, saved eternally, however I may sin—how­ever I may cast myself down in the filth and scum of the earth, and for time become a castaway by living, after the flesh?” And such, like Satan, can quote Scripture when occasion requires, and instead of “he will give his angel charge, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone,” he will quote some strong point in the doc­trine of the “final preservation of the saints.” But I quote “His servants ye are whom ye yield yourself servants to obey.” If such are saved, it will be to burn their works and save them “yet as by fire.”

Some others, I think, have listened to this suggestion till it has become a point of doctrine that if born of the Spirit they need make no precautionary measures to prolong or preserve life, health or property, but the idea is that God will look after these things. Also, concerning the church and their relative duty, that if the church of God, they need not try to upbuild it, or pray for more laborers in the vineyard, or revivals, or con­versions, or yet to encourage our wish with a hope to be baptized, or teach their children the word, faith or reverence of God, or even constrain them to go to their meetings, etc., as all this is God’s work for a “set time.” And such generally live on the bread of predestination alone. All this, and much more; is to fall from the pinnacle of the temple, or that exalted position of active faith that works by love and purifies the heart to the daily honor of God; that position of perfection and beauty highest in the living temple and nearest God on earth, and this one “falls down” indeed to lose it.

In conclusion, whenever a suggestion comes with that prefix “if,” indicating or implying that besetting doubt of divine sonship, always remember Jesus as once beset with the same “if;” also, his extreme ease and condition in that terrible wilderness—yours can never be so bad—pray for grace to fol­low his example, and be not faithless but believing.

Affectionately,

R. ANNA PHILLIPS

[1] [2]