The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHAT HAVE THE RESULT SHOWN - Continue

Satan's influence over earth's affairs has brought disunity, wickedness and death, and his rule has been means of deceit, force and selfishness. He has proved himself unfit to be the ruler of anything. So Jehovah is now fully justified in destroying his debased rebel along with all who have shared in his wicked deeds. (Romans 16:20) But what about the loyalty of God's creatures to Jehovah's loving rule and Satan's claim that all would turn away if put to the test? 

Jehovah God knew that "love never fails" and he knew that some of mankind would him willingly, out of love, and not because they were being bribed or forced. (1 Corinthians 13:8) Many thousands have done this throughout the centuries. Job was one of these. Even though Satan brought terrific pressure against him and stripped him of his belongings, children and health, Job still declared: "Until I expire I shall not take away my integrity." (1 Peter 27:5) Job proved Satan a liar. 

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 So God's long permission of wickedness has proved beyond doubt that man's attempt to 'play God' is a miserable failure. (Psalm 127:1 [126:1, Dy]) As a prominent editor said: The more we search for alibi. the more we discover that unhappiness on earth is man-made. Our key weakness is that we have not solved the problem of self-government." The inspired writer Jeremiah rightly said: "I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man who is walking to even to direct his step. Correct me, O Jehovah." - JEREMIAH 10:23, 24; see also PROVERBS 16:25. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life -WHAT HAVE THE RESULTS SHOWN?

 The Bible shows that Satan has made use of the time to build up an organization in heaven and earth over which he rules (rule earth). The extent of his control over the earth is indicated by the fact that he could offer Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for Jesus' worship. (Matthew 4:8, 9) That is why Satan is called "the ruler of this world." (John 16:11) What has this meant for mankind, and what has been the result of man's course of independence from God and his rule?

History testifies to the fact that this has not brought peace, contentment and eternal life to mankind. It has brought the opposite: thousands of years of pain, suffering, and death. The record of history and the dreadful state of affairs in the world today are proof that man has not succeeded in governing without God. Man has tried all kinds of government, but he still lacks security and enduring happiness. True, there has been progress in a materialistic way. But it is really progress when men send rockets to the moon, and yet cannot live together in a peace on earth? What good is it for them to build home equipped with every convenience, only to have families torn apart by divorce and delinquency? Are wars, riots in the streets, destruction of life and property widespread lawlessness something of which to be proud? Not at all! But they are the fruitage of rule that ignores God. Truly, as Ecclesiastes 8:9 says, man has dominated man to his injury." 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - GOD'S WAYS OF SETTLING THE ISSUES

 This illustrates in certain respects what God has done. Moreover, he has allowed sufficient time -now almost 6,000 years-for the issue to be settled beyond all doubt. He has allowed this not only to permit his faithful creatures to prove their devotion to him and his rule, but also to demonstrate that any other kind of rule results only in bad. (Proverbs 1:30-33; Isaiah 59:4, 8) By rebelling against Jehovah God, Satan set himself up as a rival ruler. And, by taking the course Satan recommended, the first human pair declined themselves of Jehovah's rule and came under Satan's control. (Genesis 3:6; Romans 6:16) By God's letting both Satan and man go to the limit in their efforts to act and rule independently of their Creator, their total failure to produce good government, with real benefits for all mankind, would be made evident beyond all future denial. Meanwhile Jehovah would have those on earth who love him proclaim his name and purposes for the enlightenment of all who lie and seek what is right. 

So, the situation is much like that involving a Pharaoh of Egypt who took a course similar to that of Satan the Devil in opposing Jehovah Godm and to whom Jehovah said: "By now I could have thrust my hand out that might strike you and your people with pestilence and that you might be effaced from the earth. But, in fact, for this cause have I kept you in existence, for the sake of showing you my power and in order to have my name declared in all the earth. - EXODUS 9:15, 16. 

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(Genesis 3:6;  Romans 6:16) 

The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - GOD'S WATY OF SETTLING THE ISSUES

 Note, please, that Satan did not raise any questions as to God's strength. He did not challenge Jehovah to use his might to destroy him as an opposer. But he did challenge God's right to rule and the rightness of his way of ruling. Also, he questioned the loyalty of God's creatures. So it was a moral issue that had to be settled. 

Satan's false charges against God may be illustrated, to a certain extent, in a human way. Suppose a man having a large family is accused by one of his neighbors of many false things about the way he manages his household. Suppose the neighbor also says that the family members have no real love for their father but only stay with him to obtain the food and material things he gives them.  How might the father of the family answer such charges? If he simply used violence against the accuser, this would answer the charges. Instead, it might suggest that they were true. But what a fine answer it would be if he permitted his own family to be his witnesses to show that their father was indeed a just and loving family head and that they were happy to live with him because they loved him! Thus he would completely vindicated. - PROVERBS 27:11; ISAIAH 43:10.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHY HAS GOD PERMITTE WICKEDNESS IN OUR DAY

THE ISSUES AT STAKE

A number of issues or vital questions we raised. First, Satan called into question the truthfulness of God.  In effect, he called God a liar, and that with regard to a matter of life and death. Second, he questioned man's independence on his Creator for continued life and happiness. He claimed that neither man's life nor his ability to govern his affairs with success depended upon obedience to Jehovah. He argued that man could not act independently of his Creator and be like God, deciding for himself what is right or wrong, good or bad. Third, by arguing against God's stated law, he in effect claimed that God's way of ruling is wrong and not for the good of his creatures and in this way he even challenged God right to rule.

But Satan's action raised still another question, as is shown in the Bible in the book of Job, chapters 1 and 2. There, in connection with a man named Job, it is shown that Satan called into question the faithfulness and loyalty to Jehovah God of all creatures. In so many words, Satan made the claim that those who served God do so, not because they love God and his righteous rule, but only for selfish reasons, such as material blessings God gives them. He claimed that, if such reasons were taken away, then even a man like Job would turn away from God. (Job 1:6-11; 2:4, 5) Yes, Satan's rebellion in Eden called into question the loyalty of all God's creatures in heaven and on earth. If put to the test, would they prove their love for their heavenly Father and show that they preferred his rule to that of any other? 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHY HAS GOD PERMITTED WICKEDNESS UNTIL OUR DAY?

 Throughout all of man's history there has been much wickedness. And today, no matter where you look in the world, there is bloodshed, crime, hatred and immorality. All too often it is the innocent, decent people who suffer from the wicked acts of others. They may be victims of violence, perhaps losing their homes, loved ones or even their own lives. You may or may not have experienced such things personally. Even if you have not, you likely have gone through things that have causes mental suffering, experiences such as injustice, being cheated or deceived. 

Why has God permitted such wickedness unto our day? There are number of reasons, but to understand those reasons properly we need to examine the issues raised at the time of the first rebellion. You have likely read the account of this in the Bible in the third chapter of Genesis. Let us consider, then, the real meaning of these events. 

Briefly, this is what occurred: Jehovah told man that his life depended upon their obedience to his Creator, and disobedience would result in death. (Genesis 2:7) God's adversary, Satan, contradicted this clear statement. He told Adam's wife that the human pair could disobey and still, "You will positively not die." He further claimed that such disobedience would actually improve matters for them, causing their eyes to be opened, and that they would be like God, knowing good and bad." (Genesis 3:4, 5) Now, what was involved in this rebellious action of Satan? 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - THE DEVIL PROMOTES FALSE RELIGION

 It should not surprise us that the Devil and his demons have many ways of misleading mankind, spiritism is just one of these. What, then, is the foremost means by which the Devil, "the father of the lie," turns mankind from God? (John 8:44) It is by means of false religion! False religion is worship that is built on falsehoods and that is in conflict with God's Word of truth, the Bible. That is one reason why the Bible points out that if a person worships in a way that is not in harmony with God's Word, he in reality serving the demons, because he is acting in harmony with what they want and in conflict with God. - DEUTERONOMY 32:16, 17; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:20.

Although false religions may appear respectable, we should realize that the Devil is like many modern-day underworld or crime leaders who hide behind a front of respectability. What more subtle way could there be for him to deceive people and get them to serve him by using a religious front that has an outward appearance of righteousness? That the Devil would mislead people by religion that outwardly claims to serve God is shown in the Bible.  (Matthew 7:22, 23) In fact, the Christian apostle Paul said that "Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light" and "his ministers of righteousness." - 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14, 15. 

So Jesus Christ was not imagining somethings when he called the Devil "the ruler of this world." (John 12:31) There are indeed wicked spirits misleading "the entire inhabited earth." But a short period of time" remains before the Devil and his wicked angels are to be put out of operation. (Revelation12:9, 12) Meantime, keep free from every form of spiritism and break free from religion that may appear respectable but is really based on falsehood.  You cannot hold to spiritism or any other religious falsehood and get eternal life in God's new system of things, because it is the truth that leads to eternal life. - EPHESIANS 6:12, 16. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - KEEP AWAY FR0M EVERY F0RM OF SPIRITISM

 But what if on has been dabbling in some of the spiritistic religions or sciences and now wants to break free from spiritism? Well, what did many of the early Christians at Ephesus do when they wanted to get free from the magical arts? The Bible tells us that, after accepting the "the word of Jehovah" preached by the apostle Paul, they "brought their books together and burned them up before everybody," even though they were worth 50,000 pieces of silver!  (Acts19:19, 20) Their example of destroying objects related to spiritistic practices is the one to follow.

Do not be deceived by the increasing interest in mystic and occult matters. Wicked spirit creatures are promoting such spiritism. But these wicked spirit forces, including the Devil, will eventually be destroyed. (Matthew 25:41) If you want eternal life you need to stay away free from their influence by avoiding every kind of spiritism. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - KEEP FREE FROM EVERY FORM OF SPIRITISM

 Divination is one of the common forms of spiritism. It is the effort to obtain knowledge of the unknown or of the future by means of omens or demon power. (Acts 16:16) Many are the ways divination is practiced today, such as by divining rods, pendulums, crystal ball gazing, Ouija boards, ESP, examining the lines of one's hands (palmistry), studying the flight of certain birds, looking for omens in one's dreams and in other incidents in one's life and then trying to relate these to the future. There is also divination by the stars, commonly called astrology. This originated in ancient Babylon, as did various forms of the magical arts. The Bible shows that all use divination sin against God. - 1 SAMUEL 15:22, 23.

One of the ways wicked in which wicked spirits mislead people is by talking to them, either through a spirit medium or by a "voice" from the invisible realm. The "voice" pretends to be a departed relative or a good spirit; but this is falsehood! What should you do when you do if such a "voice speaks to you? Well, what did Jesus Christ do when the ruler of the wicked spoke to him? Jesus rejected the Devil's suggestions, saying: "Go away, Satan!" (Matthew 4:10) You can do that too. Also, you can call on Jehovah for aid, praying aloud and praising his name. Follow this wise course, and do not give ear to such voices from the invisible realm. - PROVERBS 18:10; JAMES 4:7.

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