Page 151 - Jesus is coming - Class version

148 JESD8 18 COMING.

heart, and this is obtained not by education, but by the
operation of the Spirit of God. It was not many wise men
after the flesh who received the grace of God in Corinth,
but the simple and the despised. "I thank Thee, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth," said Jesus, "that thou hast hid
these things from the wise and prudent (discerning ones)
and hast revealed them unto babes." Luke 10 :21.
The world, then, by "wisdom" or "philosophy" (Col. 2:
8), or "science falsely so called" (1 Tim. 6:20), can never
find out God. Indeed, we have a clear evidence of this in
the rationalism, infidelity and atheism of our day. No
matter how refined and polished is their garb or the deli-
cacy with which they may be set forth, still they are only
the poisonous deceptions of him who can appear as "an
angel of light." 102 The truth is that Satan is the arch
enemy of God, and the world, in this present evil age (Gal.
1:4), is in his power (1 John 5:19), so that he besets the
people of God with his "wiles," and arrays against them
"principalities .... powers .... and the rulers of the
darkness of this world." Eph. 6:11-13. Therefore the
Christian must "love not the world, neither the things
that are in the world. If any man love the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
1 John 2 :15-16.
The World Not Growing Better.
Surely, then, this wicked world, which is so radically
opposed to God, and under the present control of His
arch enemy, is not growing better. On the contrary,
judgment, fire and perdition are before it. 108 Perilous
(102) 2 Cor. 11:13. For such transformed as the ministers of
are false apostles, deceitful righteousness ; whose end shall
workers, transforming themselves be according to their works.
Into the apostles of Christ. (103) 2 Pet. 2. And many
14. And no marvel ; for Sa- shall follow their pernicious
tan himself is transformed into ways ; by reason of whom the
an angel of light. way of truth shall be evil spoken
16. Therefore it is no great of.
thing it his ministers also be 3. And through covetousnesa