In deciding upon any course of action we are not to ask whether we can
see that harm will result from it, but whether it is in keeping with the
will of God. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the
end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12. "To obey is better
than sacrifice." The sacrificial offerings were in themselves of no
value in the sight of God. They were designed to express on the part of
the offerer penitence for sin and faith in Christ and to pledge future
obedience to the law of God. But without penitence, faith, and an
obedient heart, the offerings were worthless. When, in direct violation
of God's command, Saul proposed to present a sacrifice of that which God
had devoted to destruction, open contempt was shown for the divine
authority. The service would have been an insult to Heaven.
Yet with the sin of Saul and its result before us, how many are pursuing
a similar course. While they refuse to believe and obey some
requirement of the Lord, they persevere in offering up to God their
formal services of religion. There is no response of the Spirit of God
to such service. No matter how zealous men may be in their observance of
religious ceremonies, the Lord cannot accept them if they persist in
willful violation of one of His commands. "Rebellion is as the sin of
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." Rebellion
originated with Satan, and all rebellion against God is directly due to
satanic influence. Those who set themselves against the government of
God have entered into an alliance with the archapostate, and he will
exercise his power and cunning to captivate the senses and mislead the
understanding. He will cause everything to appear in a false light. Like
our first parents, those who are under his bewitching spell see only
the great benefits to be received by transgression.
No stronger evidence can be given of Satan's delusive power than that many who are thus led by him deceive themselves with the belief that they are in the service of God. When Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebelled against the authority of Moses, they thought they were opposing only a human leader, a man like themselves; and they came to believe that they were verily doing God service. But in rejecting God's chosen instrument they rejected Christ; they insulted the Spirit of God
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