God will forgive any believer who comes to Him in genuine repentance. If all goes well the believer may gain higher ground than he had before. His sin may become a source of an increased knowledge of God, of increased humility. But God will "avenge Uriah," so to speak.

Many painful experiences may come to the repentant believer because of his breaking of the covenant—even though he was deceived and sinned in ignorance. David was deceived, as evidenced by his surprise at the words of Nathan.

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. . . . (II Samuel 12:7)

Sometimes a Christian may enter deeply into sin before the word comes, "Thou art the man." When God in His goodness warns us of our sin we are to turn immediately and make amends as well as we can.

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. (II Samuel 12:13)

The Lord will put our sin away the moment we repent. If we continue to walk patiently before the Lord, accepting whatever circumstances He sees fit to send our way, our fall and recovery will prove to be a source of additional wisdom and strength.

To gain purification by falling is a painful and dangerous way to enter the Kingdom of God. How much better to obey Jesus in every detail so it is not necessary for us to experience such prolonged agony. We place our soul in jeopardy when we fall. Who knows whether or not we will be able to recover!

To sin willfully and presumptuously is to become an enemy of God. The end of willful sin is the destruction of the individual.

God will permit the magnification of Antichrist and the destruction of the Divine testimony from the cities of the earth so God's eternal purposes in Christ may be brought to the fullness of maturity.

What God has determined to do shall be done!

It is God who does the determining. God never practices unrighteousness nor does God tempt any man. But God does permit those who stubbornly are going their own way to discover for themselves the folly of disobedience to God. The history of man on the earth is an illustration of God's method of permitting people to experience the pain that results from not seeking the Lord in every detail of life.

How much agony has mankind endured as God permits people to come to understand the destruction that sin causes! How much agony have individuals endured as they have chosen to obtain their security, their joy, their achievement, apart from God!

Numerous human beings never learn the simplest of all truths—that only in God is there lasting love, joy, and peace. It is only as we give back all we are and possess to God that we are able to obtain true love, joy, and peace, which by far are the greatest treasures anyone can receive.

To be continued.