THE OVERCOMER'S REWARD.
By MARY E. GUILFORD
The word of God contains many cheering promises pointing to the final reward of those who through faith obtain the victory over Satan, self, and the world. Thus we read: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev. iii, 21. Precious promise! How it cheers and encourages the heart; how it strengthens and stimulates the energies of those who are striving for the ascendancy over their carnal besetments, struggling for the mastery over sin and Satan, combining their efforts with the assisting grace of God, to subdue envy, lust and pride, renounce worldly pleasures, and all the follies and vanities of this delusive age, that they may be wholly divested of everything evil, superfluous and vain, and be clothed with the robes of righteousness, adorned with meekness and humility, become living examples of Christian purity and holiness, and lawful heirs of an immortal inheritance. Again, when weary, persecuted, afflicted, or buffeted by the enemy, we find consolation in the promise that “if we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with him.” Oh! to reign with Christ! to share all the joys, honors, and glories of eternity in the kingdom of our blessed Redeemer! Then should we not rejoice in tribulation, knowing that our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory? Again we read, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things.” What a glorious reward! to enter the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem and feast our immortal vision upon its beauty and loveliness, dwell in those regal mansions, eat the fruit of life's fair tree, drink from its crystal fountain, and join with the redeemed on harps of gold in anthems of never-ending praise to the great and glorious Giver of all these blessings; to behold the “King in his beauty,” and sit with him upon his glorious throne, and be forever free from the cares, turmoils, and perplexities of this mortal life, to dwell with God and holy angels, and enjoy with the “saints of all ages” sweet rest forevermore in those ambrosial bowers in the paradise of God. How is it with us, dear brethren and sisters? Do we expect to share in the overcomer's reward? Have we based our hopes and expectations upon these promises, and are we giving all diligence to fulfill the requirements or conditions upon which these promises are made? They will avail us nothing unless we finally do overcome. Then let us examine our hearts closely, and see if we are indeed zealous in the work of the Lord. If we are, our words and actions will not belie our profession. Are we daily overcoming our unworthy pride, willing to be led by the Holy Spirit of God, and return to that primitive simplicity so pleasing in his sight? overcoming our covetousness, bestowing freely of our means to advance his glorious truth? cutting loose from the world, and centering our whole affections upon things heavenly and divine? having our conversation pure and holy, as becometh professors of godliness? If so, then great will be our reward. But oh! if not, if we are still clinging to our earthly possessions with a miser's grasp, if we are still fostering rebellious pride in our hearts, refusing to be led by the teachings of the Holy Spirit, if we shrink from the cross of Christ for fear of the ridicule from an ungodly world; then well may we pause and tremble; for we are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. Oh! let us beware how we hoard up for our own use the treasures God has committed to our trust. “For,” says the apostle, “this ye know, . . . that no covetous man who is an idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Oh! let us strive to lay up treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. Do we at any time feel a spirit of exaltation creep into our hearts, or, if we feel tempted to deck our frail bodies with superfluous adornments, in order to gain the favor and admiration of the world, let us pause and meditate upon the denunciations of God's judgments, and humble ourselves mightily before him, lest those judgments unmingled with mercy, fall upon our guilty heads. Says the wise man, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord.” Prov. xvi, 5. In Isa. ii, 12, we read, “For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought down.” Again, in Mal. iv, 1: “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Happy, indeed, will those be, that will humble themselves now, that the Lord may exalt them in due time. And whenever we shrink from bearing the cross of Christ, let us remember his words: “He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. Do we fear the ridicule of the world, and think perhaps it is not necessary we should be quite so particular? Read Rev. xxi, 8: “But the fearful and unbelieving, . . . shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.” Then let us make haste to humble ourselves before God, heartily confess, and repent of all our sins, renounce our stubborn wills, and yield ourselves wholly passive to the will of God. The sweet voice of mercy still lingers, but ere long it will die away; and if we continue to live in a cold or lukewarm state, we shall be aroused too late, alas! to find that we have forever grieved away the tender Spirit of God, and that that glorious reward upon which we have so long cast our eager vision, has passed beyond our reach. Oh! the agony of that hour, pen cannot portray, when those who have professed the truth, yet have not been sanctified by it, awake to know that they are forever debarred from entering upon the reward of the overcomer, because they have refused to comply with the conditions of the promise, disregarded the teachings of the Holy Spirit, sought their ease and pleasure, and chosen their own ways. Says Jesus, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.” In view of this, let us seek to do the will of our Heavenly Father, cheerfully obey his requirements, live soberly, righteously, and godly, that we may with joyful anticipation look for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto his own glorious body. Who will redeem us from all iniquity, translate us to a kingdom of immortal glory, where, through the countless ages of eternity we shall enjoy his smiles, and sing the praises of our Redeemer. Oh! who would not be there? Who would not wear the overcomer's crown? Then let us be faithful, and soon the gentle hand of our blessed Saviour will place it upon our brow.