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Overcoming to the End

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 4, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 31.

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Overcoming to the End

By C. M. S.

ONE of our most influential exchanges declares its belief that the kingdom of God can not triumph in the earth so long as the business that ruins the bodies and souls of men continues. It refers to the saloon business. Now, while the saloon business is one of the most nefarious businesses in the world, it is not a fact that the triumph of God’s kingdom in this world is dependent upon its suppression. We would gladly see it suppressed, and would do all in our power to help suppress it; but the triumph of God’s children—and therefore the triumph of God’s kingdom—are assured, whether men succeed in suppressing the liquor traffic or not.
If the writer referred to is looking for the establishment of a temporal kingdom in this present world, with Christ as its ruler, the observation would not be out of place; but no such thing is promised anywhere in the Word, and it could not be, without an entire remodeling of the teachings of the Scriptures. We notice the matter here, simply because so much credence has been given the idea that Christians must work politically to bring about moral and religious changes in the nations. It is the belief of that writer, and many others, that the important work for the church just now is to influence the state to take steps to make all soul-destroying vices illegal, and then, afterward, resume its work of soul-saving. But if the kingdom of God can not triumph until the business of wickedness in this world is stopped by legal enactment, then it must be indeed the work of the church to make politics its one work until that object has been accomplished.
We can not admit for one moment that such is the case. We would be the last to plead for the licensing of any kind of vice; but God will purify a people out of the midst of the darkest period of this world’s history, and they will be the subjects of his kingdom of righteousness. The kingdom of God will triumph over sin. The eternal reign of righteousness will be ushered in at a time when wickedness has reached its climax. There will be something for Christians to overcome up to the very time that they are declared to be overcomers. Here are the promises of God:—
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Rev. 2:7.
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.” Rev. 3:5.
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.” Verse 12.
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.” Verse 21.
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things.” Rev. 21:7.
Christ’s followers are to overcome, to conquer; and the earth, sin-soaked as it is, is the place where their battles are to be fought and won. The battle is not one-sided: both parties are on the field up to the time of the victory. Those who win, who overcome, do so in spite of the wickedness that is all about them; because the gospel, whose ministers they are, “is the power of God unto salvation.” Rom. 1:16. The ministers of God are not to look for a reign of legal righteousness to usher in the consummation of their work. Those who do so will be found unprepared for that consummation when it comes; for the plain testimony of the Lord is against the existence of such a condition of things in the earth while his work is drawing to a close. He declares, through Paul, that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:13. A reading of the chapter will show that Paul is telling conditions that would prevail in the last days; but, notwithstanding the discouraging conditions, “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matt. 10:22.
Although Paul saw that wickedness would continue to the end, he never for a moment lost hope that the kingdom of God would triumph; for he says:—
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:7, 8.
Through the smoke of the long battle Paul saw the glittering crown of the victors, and he who has the faith of Paul will look through the few remaining days of the conflict, and see what he saw. There is no provision for waiting till the state shall come to our aid, and make all wickedness illegal. The success of the kingdom of God does not hang on the tangled thread of political success; and if we have learned the teachings of Emmanuel, we shall not look for it, nor slacken our labors in anticipation of it. God’s call now to all who profess his name is, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Cor. 16:13.
We know that wickedness will augment its forces and its work; we know that no moral regeneration can be produced in the hearts of the people by law; but we also know that out of a world of wickedness the church of God will come forth “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;” that out of the whirlpool of destruction that is raging in the earth the people of the Most High will come forth “more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Rom. 8:37.
He who is looking for the conversion of the world, and considers such conversion the triumph of God’s kingdom, is forced to conclude that, as long as there is wickedness in the world, the kingdom of God can not triumph; for wickedness is the work of unconverted men. But God does not authorize the hope that the world will be converted. More than that, he teaches that it will not be. “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand.” Dan. 12:10. “Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” 2 Thess. 2:8. This certainly shows that there will be wickedness in the earth at the time of Christ’s coming; that the great multitude, instead of turning to God, and giving him glory, will utterly reject him, and be smitten with his glory when he comes. Listen, also to this testimony of Inspiration:—
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” 2 Thess. 1:7-9.
Peace will one day reign upon the earth, and all who dwell in it will be righteous; but it will not be through the enactment of human laws. It will not be until God has cleansed the earth by the destruction of those who persist in working wickedness; until he “shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire.” Matt. 13:41, 42. Then will peace reign, in the person of the Prince of Peace, and the history of sin will be finished. “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh [conquereth]the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4. Have we been born of God? Then let us have faith—faith in God and the triumph of his kingdom, no matter how terrible the wickedness we may see in the earth to-day, or how great the numbers of them that know not God.
C. M. S.