"I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one" (1 John 2:14).

The question of meeting Satan is a solemn one for everyone of us. The great point presented in this Scripture is that "the Word of God abideth in you." I do not know anything that is more important for young Christians than that—to have the Word of God abiding in them. Let me assure you, if that is not the case, you will not be able to use God's Word against the Devil as occasion demands.

You may often hear it said, "I do not feel that so-and-so is wrong; I do not see that there is any harm in this or that because my conscience does not reprove me." Neither did Saul's conscience when he was persecuting the church on earth and hating Jesus in heaven (see Acts 8:1-4 and Acts 9:1-5).

Oh, believe it, there is nothing that is a greater counterfeit, and a more dangerous power of Satan than this, that he makes what people call their conscience the guide of their actions. If you make conscience the judge to which everything is subjected as to your ways, you will fall into the snare of the devil. There is nothing that can pilot us according to the mind of God, except this blessed Book, the Word of God, which is the revelation of His mind. Conscience is a witness, that which keeps the record, so to speak, as to how far this Word acts on me. It is a true witness, if it is divinely informed; a false witness if it is not.

There is nothing so dangerous as the thing that wears the appearance of truth, but is not the truth, because Satan knows quite well that it is by this very thing that saints are most easily deceived. It is a thorough perversion of conscience, and of the place God intended it to occupy, to make it the standard of my actions. It is God's Word that is to be the guide in everything; and I commend it to you. The Scripture is the embodiment in writing of the mind of God. If the Word of God abides in you, you are strong, there is the energy of faith, and you have overcome the wicked one.

—W.T. Turpin (abridged)

There is great strength gained by unreserved obedience to the Word of God. It will not do to pick and choose. We are prone to this—prone to take up certain commandments and precepts which suit ourselves; but this is really self-will. What right have we to select such and such precepts from the Word, and neglect others? None whatever. To do so is, in principle, simply self-will and rebellion. —C.H.M.