EVIL-DISPOSED men are inclined often to blame God forever having permitted Satan to tempt them. Apart from his evil suggestions they are sure that they would never deviate from the straight and narrow way. The Bible tells of a time when the great enemy of God and man will be bound for a thousand years and Christ Himself will reign over all this lower universe. Yet even then it will be demonstrated that sin will not be done away in its entirety, for at the close of that glorious period men will still be found ready to join in a revolt against God and His Christ, when Satan is loosed for a little season.
The natural heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and only the grace of God can enable one so to rise above its lusts as to walk before God in holiness and righteousness. The same power that will bind the devil eventually can enable us now to triumph in Christ and to walk in newness of life. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
“Come, Lord, and tarry not!
Bring the long-looked-for day;
Oh, why these years of waiting here.
These ages of delay?
Come, for creation groans.
Impatient of Thy stay.
Worn out with these long years of ill,
These ages of delay.
Come and begin Thy reign
Of everlasting peace;
Come, take the kingdom to Thyself,
Great King of Righteousness!”
―Bonar.