Victory After Eighty-Eight Years' Warfare by E. L. CARDEY

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 11, 1910

Victory After Eighty-Eight Years' Warfare

By E. L. CARDEY

E. L. CARDEY

For the benefit of those who may be struggling with a bad habit, or who may have friends that are, I here give the following experience: Late in November of 1909 the writer started a course of meetings in the Seventh-day Adventist church building at Sawtell, Cal. In this city is a national soldiers' home, containing at present over three thousand old soldiers. From the first the meetings were well attended, and at the close eighteen persons signed the covenant to keep all the commandments of God. A number of old soldiers were among this company, and it is about one of these that I wish to write. The brother in question will be ninety-three years old next April. During these meetings he attended every night, coming a number of times through rain and mud from the home half a mile distant. When I first met him, he told me how long he had used tobacco, and that he could give up bread more easily than that. At the age of five he was given his first taste of the filthy weed, but it did not make him sick. Since that time he had used it continually for eighty-eight years. He had spent twenty-three years in the service of his country, and in that time passed through the Mexican, Indian, and Civil wars. He was sixteen years old at the time of the falling of the stars, and that wonderful night seems to him but as yesterday.

At the close of the meeting he presented himself for membership with those who are keeping the commandments of God. I showed him the importance of leaving off his tobacco, and he at once said, “I am willing to give up whatever is necessary in order to win eternal life.” We had special prayer as a church in his behalf, that he might have the help of the Lord in overcoming the tobacco habit. Once before he had tried to give up tobacco, but his stomach became so weak that the doctors advised him to resume its use. That trial lasted two weeks. This time he has felt no bad effects from leaving it off, and the desire for it has been largely taken away. He claims complete victory through the power of God. It took first a determined mind; then the Lord added his blessing, and the victory was gained.

It does not matter to the Lord whether a man has used tobacco one year or a hundred years; he can give overcoming grace in one case as well and as easily as in the other. First there must be the willing and determined mind; then the Lord can work. This brother is almost a century old, yet able, through the strength of the Lord, to gain victories over the mighty powers of darkness.

Brother, there is help for that besetting sin, no matter how long it has been with you. We serve a God who is able to do things for his people.

Santa Monica, Cal.