p. 9 | Victory: Are You Gaining It? by F. W. SPIES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 27, 1908

Victory: Are You Gaining It?

By F. W. SPIES

F. W. SPIES

On one of my recent trips, after holding a Bible study on prayer, showing the firm confidence we can repose in our Heavenly Father, and on the other hand the obedience necessary to obtain this confidence, two young ladies, both native Brazilians, resolved henceforth to dedicate their lives to the Lord and to his truth. One of these sisters, like most young ladies, was very fond of her jewelry, and I foresaw that she would yet have some battles to fight in carrying out her resolution. The day designated for baptism was nearing, and she hoped to be baptized with some others. Therefore, a few days after she had formed her resolution, we selected as a lesson for our morning worship 1 Peter 3: 1-12. This naturally brought into consideration the question of extravagant clothing, ornaments, and the wearing of jewelry. I felt that the lesson was a hard one; still it must be given, as it would be impossible to bury in baptism an idol along with the one who had promised to surrender all for the Lord’s sake.

After worship and breakfast were over the young lady said, “I can never give up my jewelry.” I called her attention to the great sacrifice of Jesus to save us from our sins — to make us free from these very things — that after he had done so much for us, he now asks us for his sake to deny ourselves of all things that would mark us as belonging to the world, and hence cause us to deny our profession; that his wish was the best for us. I then left her to the words we had studied, and prayed for her.

After dinner as we chanced to be alone for a few moments, I asked her how the matter stood with reference to her jewelry. She replied, smiling: “It is surrendered; it is gone; I shall never wear it again.” I knew this meant that a great victory had been gained by her, and to me this was the plainest evidence of her thorough conversion. When once for the love of Jesus and his truth we lay upon the altar of sacrifice those things we prize most highly, we thereby bring forth fruits meet for repentance, and show that we are doing earnest work for eternity.

That Word that was all-powerful in Paul’s day to convert Jews, Greeks, barbarians, Scythians, bond and free, has not grown weak with age. It is the same now as then. It is powerful to save all who really receive it into their hearts. But as I thought of the struggle this dear soul passed through, and remembered the solicitude I had felt that she should come out on the right side, I could realize what a tender solicitude Jesus has for all his children. Yes, he is watching with the tenderest interest with each of his tempted and tried ones, as they battle with their inherited and cultivated defects and deformities of character. O how anxious he is to see us get the victory over each besetting sin! How anxiously he is looking on to see if we are conquering the love of the world, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — in short, each pet sin. He knows just how much it is costing us to gain the victory, but he knows, too, that we can not enter into the kingdom unless we do gain the victory over each sin, even though it seems like tearing out the right eye or cutting off the right hand.

But let us look at it as did this sister. Remember how much Jesus sacrificed to save us. O, how great was his offering! We can never fathom the depths of his self-denial and suffering for us. Therefore, let us look up smilingly and courageously to Jesus, and say: “For thy sake I will lay all on the altar. Take me and it, and sanctify all for thy use, and prepare me for thy kingdom.” From my own experience I know that this is the only way to gain the victory, and more than that, it is the only way to be happy in the Lord.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.