The setting below is of the evil one going to Venus (Perelandra) in order to bring the Mother of all living there (like Eve for us) into disobedience against Maleldil (God). The Evil One has been working on the lady for days now and it looks like Evil is going to win. Ransom (the main character in the book) has been sent to Perelandra (Venus) but he is not sure why. In the context of below, He has been listening to the enemies temptations to the Lady for days now. He is distraught at the thought that the woman might give in to the enemies constant temptations to disobey--and thus Venus would have a fall . . .
"The Enemy was using Third Degree methods. It seemed to Ransom that, but for a miracle, the Lady's resistance was bound to be worn away in the end. Why did no miracle come? Or rather, why no miracle on the right side? For the presence of the Enemy was in itself a kind of Miracle. Had Hell a prerogative to work wonders? Why did Heaven work none? Not for the first time he found himself questioning Divine Justice. He could not understand why Maleldil should remain absent when the Enemy was there in person."
"But while he was thinking this, as suddenly and sharply as if the solid darkness about him had spoken with articulate voice, he knew that Maleldil was not absent. . . the darkness was packed quite full. It seemed to press upon his trunk so that he could hardly use his lungs: it seemed to close in on his skull like a crown of intolerable weight so that for a space he could hardly think."
Faced with this situation Ransom begins to ask the question as to what he can possibly do to help in this monumental situation. He doubted that he was the representative of Maleldil or that he could stand up to the evil one-- now possessing and using the body of the character Weston. Yet, all his arguments were flung back in his face and in the end he realized he had to do something or there would be the entrance of evil into Perelandra and the necessity of another Ransom taking place to deliver Venus.
In the end Ransom decides to take on the Un-Man (The body of Weston possessed) in hand to hand combat, in a fight to the death.
Commentary: When faced with the seeming victories of evil in our own current day perhaps you have oft thrown up your hands and asked what you could possibly do? Perhaps it seems to you like evil is winning and that perhaps God is nowhere present or at best an uninterested observer watching to see how things will play out. Maybe your own life is being stretched to the breaking point as you feel a darkness that is "packed quite full." What can you do? Here are some options:
1. Do nothing. Give up in despair.
2. Pray like crazy with little hope of the good side winning out. This is like number one above in some ways!
3. Pray and tell God that things have to work out according to your plan or you will sulk!
3. Pray with faith being willing to get out of the boat and get wet or to get dirty in the mud, taking on the enemy in practical combat. This would include a joyful relinquishment of all things to God, the return of thankfulness, and certain actions of living on your part-- and the possibility of God doing something amazingly different that is better than your wildest dreams.
Consider: Psalm 126:6 "He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him." Those crushed with the difficulties of life in this passage are actually still sowing seed IN THE MIDST OF THEIR WEEPING--still working, still sowing, still living-- rather than giving in to despair and doing nothing at all. Do that! Pray, Trust, and Go forward sowing in spite of what is going on around you-- then you will have a joyful time of reaping in your future.
Remember, the enemy wants you totally sidelined as in option 1 above. He hates option 2 but if he can make you a worried and hopeless pray-er all the better. Option 3 is quite acceptable to the enemy. However, if you will go all-in with God in total relinquishment and submission with joyful living then the doom of the enemy is at hand. Remember this about Jesus:
1. He prayed with loud cries and tears to His Father that the cup of wrath to be poured out on the cross might pass Him by. He was hoping for another way.
2. Jesus not only said but meant "Your will be done, not mine."
3. Our Lord went in full joy to the cross (taking on the enemy) due to the "joy that was set before Him." His trust and confidence in the midst of absolute darkness resulted in a joy unspeakable for Himself and others across the ages.
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