Christ wishes to raise men up to heaven, and has given them all the means to attain this; whilst the Devil wishes by every means to attach men to earthly, sensual, transitory things St. John of Kronstadt
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St. John of Kronstadt: . . . Christ taught us truth; the Devil teaches us falsehood, and strives in every way to contradict every truth . . .
‘God came upon earth in order to raise us up to heaven.’
It would seem, after this, that even when living upon earth we must live as if in the heavenly kingdom, dwelling there in anticipation by hope. But in reality, for the greater part, the contrary is the case. Men cling with their whole being to the earth and everything earthly.
Wherefore is this? Because our common enemy, the Devil, endeavours with all his might to oppose the intentions of the God-man, Christ. He endeavours to do everything in opposition to what Christ did and does.
Christ wishes to raise men up to heaven, and has given them all the means to attain this; whilst the Devil, who himself for his pride was cast down from heaven into the dominions of the air, wishes by every means to attach men to earthly,- sensual, transitory things, and, in order to attain this end, he employs the most powerful, most prodigious means.
Christ taught us truth; the Devil teaches us falsehood and strives in every way to contradict every truth; devising various calumnies against it.
The Devil endeavors by every means to keep men in error, in the enticement of the passions, in darkness of mind and heart; in pride, avarice, covetousness, envy, hatred, wicked impatience and irritation; in evil despondence, in the abominations of fornication, adultery, theft, false witness, blasphemy, negligence, slothfulness, and sluggishness.
+ St. John of Kronstad My Life in Christ
I have been reading your posts, and this one in particular, I find most timely and edifying. This chaos that has unleashed recently, and in which the enemy seems bent on terrifying us with, has been very difficult for so many of us. The hardships that lie ahead could very well be unprecedented, and I don’t know how we will possibly endure without faith in our Lord and trust in His divine provision! Thank you so much and please pray for us, for our children and all our neighbors and loved ones!