“Heap all the
riches and honors of the world upon a man-- they will not make him a Christian.
Heap them on a Christian-- they will not make him a better Christian. Again,
take them all away. When stripped and naked, he will still be a Christian, and
perhaps a better one.
Satan could do the
sincere saint little harm if he directed his forces only against his outward
enjoyments, because they mean nothing to him in comparison with his spiritual
inheritance. Indeed, Satan's attack on a Christian's earthly possessions should
do him no more harm than a robber does to a man if he strips him naked and then
proceeds to beat the man's clothes as they lie on the ground in a heap! Insofar
as the spirit of grace prevails in a saint's heart, he has put off his desire
for the things of the world. Therefore, his heavenly treasure is the booty
Satan waits for: his nature, his occupation, and his hopes.
The Christian's
nature is heavenly, born from above. As Christ is the Lord from heaven, so all
His offspring are heavenly. The holiness of Christ in you reminds Satan of his own
first estate. He has lost the beauty of holiness forever, and how, like a true
apostate, he endeavors to ruin it in you.
God stamps His
image of holiness on the face of your soul. This attribute of beauty is what
makes us most like God. How God longs to see His clear likeness reflected in
His children, and His true children long to be like Him! Satan knows this and
works tirelessly to disfigure the divine image. Marring the Christian's nature
brings shame to the saint and pours contempt upon God in distorting His
likeness. It is not worth risking life and limb against this enemy who
annihilates that which makes us like God Himself?
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