Friday: Further Thought – Rebellion and Redemption
We do not know why sin arose in Lucifer. Ellen G. White tells us that “little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation”–Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 35. The fact that this occurred in a perfect being reveals in a powerful way the reality of free will and free choice as part of God’s government.
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God created all intelligent creatures as good; they were moral beings with a good moral nature. There was nothing in them leaning toward evil. How, then, did sin arise in Lucifer? The answer is that there is no answer. There is no excuse for sin. If an excuse for it could be found, then God could ultimately be held responsible for it. As humans we are used to cause/effect relationships. But sin does not have a cause; there is simply no reason for it. It’s irrational and nonsensical. Lucifer could not justify his actions, especially as one so favored of God. Somehow, though, through abusing free will, Lucifer corrupted himself, and from being the “light bearer, ” he became Satan, “the adversary.” Though there’s a lot we don’t understand, we should understand enough to know just how careful we ourselves need to be with the sacred gift of free will and free choice.
Discussion Questions:
- Jealousy played a large part in Satan’s rebellion against God. In your own experience, what kind of damage has jealousy caused? How can we learn to fight against this very common emotion?
- Dwell more on the amazing gift of free will and free choice. How do we use these gifts every day? Look at some of the terrible consequences of the wrong use of this gift. How can we learn to use it correctly?
- Think about the role of the law in context of free will and free choice. The mere fact that God has a law should be a testimony to the reality of free will. After all, what is the purpose of a moral law unless you have moral creatures who can choose to follow it? Dwell more on the implications of the law and what it says about human freedom.
- There’s a powerful tendency, especially in certain parts of the world, to reject the idea of a literal devil. Why is such a view so contrary to even the most basic understanding of the Bible?
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He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. (proverbs 28:13)
We in our mortal existance are to strive towards perfection, but when we fall into sin we are to confess it and forsake it to receive forgiveness. As we are not perfect we ought to know how to react to when we have sinned. We are not to be excused for sinning willingly and repeatedly, put where we have tripped up and have sinned unintentionally.
The quarterly states: "We do not know why sin arose in Lucifer." and "How, then, did sin arise in Lucifer?"
Doesn't scripture point out the facts? If not, how are we safe from taking the same path to perdition?! While there is no excuse for sin, there are clear reasons it happens.
The moment we make self more important than others, especially more important than God, we are on the path that will lead to destruction (Prov 16:18). The Bible points out the fall of Lucifer very distinctly, marking well the path we must avoid at all cost. (see Isaiah 14 and Eze 28)
There was an obvious risk in creating creatures with free will, and one with such intelligence and wisdom as Lucifer could be tempted (by self) to turn away from the Divine Pattern and seek a different way, namely; self-exaltation. God is the opposite of this principle (if we really "find the knowledge of God" as it is possible to do), yet, even in His very presence there is the ability to turn away, leading to self-deception and believing in lies, which will require an earnest fight against clear convictions, which harbored pride is more than willing to deny.
We have been shown HOW Lucifer was led to sin as we are faithfully warned against taking this same path. This is the risk of all free will agents in the Kingdom of God, and it will always be a risk, though God has met this risk with the best possible remedy; the proof of His Goodwill toward men in Christ. Why else would He do this? It will bring Peace on Earth once again. This peace will not prevent the possibility of rebellion, but it is the best deterrent or God would have found a different way.
There was never a time, and never will be, when faith(and it's obedience) is not required by God's creatures. It pleases Him and brings us perfect peace.
We can take the lesson from the wrong use of the free will and free choice that God given to Adam and Eva. The lesson is that human being can not use it without connected it first to God if human being use it without connected it to God, then the result is will be Human error hhhhhh just like electric system...if Eva first will/choice was hooked up to God first then Gods will Power would reject Satan will then Eva would say No to Satan then the result is Eva is the Winner / Success to Gods creature
As the Bible suggests, "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty,"...I think Lucifer's main problem was he started to admire himself, thinking that he ought to receive praise for what and who he was. He forgot that the Father was the source of his very being. To avoid making the same mistake we would do well to remember Paul's words to the Athenians...Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
If we continue to recognize our own utter dependence upon our heavenly Father for all that we are, or can possibly become, and be content with what He accomplishes in and through us, then there will be left little opportunity for our egos to take any credit or glory for anything. "For without me ye can do nothing".