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Overcoming

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 5, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 9.

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Overcoming.

By Jos. Clarke.

How joyful the thought, when darkness presses in from without, that you can have the assurance within, that you are making progress in overcoming an evil heart.
What light and peace fill the soul, when you think of difficulties overcome, sins abandoned, evil desires eradicated, enmities, bitterness, envy, rooted out from the heart; and past progress in this direction then encourages you to further efforts to perfect this good work.
How happy to think in your heart, I am willing to do all required of God's people, to deny self, as Christ did, that I may have his smile and assurance of pardon.
You had a little habit of holding a slight grudge against your enemy, or against an inconsistent professor who tried your patience to the quick; but you prayed blessings on his head, whenever evil suggestions crept softly into your heart, and now you have overcome that evil thought, though it came noiselessly to the door of your heart a hundred times, yet you always treated it with such cold neglect, and prayed so persistently against it, that the wicked suggestion crept away ashamed.
You have, with God's people, moved forward in every reform. Little by little, you have carried out these reforms. At first, you did this so imperfectly, so weakly, that you feared for yourself; but every little advance paved the way for another, greater and more perfect reform. God helped you, and you outdid yourself. This led you to give the glory to God; but who can tell what inward joy it gave you, so refreshing, and encouraging, as step by step you descended into the quiet valley of humility, where the spirit of pride is vanished and forever excluded?
It may have been a long struggle and a painful conflict, but so far the victory is yours. But you rejoice, and well you may, for it is more to you than thrones and diadems, and all the enemy can possibly confer.
But still you have a conflict before you. God's people have advanced but to the fourth round of the ladder, namely, temperance. Some are stumbling fatally here, but let us make good our hold upon this round, for our patience is next to be tried.
We rejoice in past victories, but with trembling, for an arduous work lies before us. Yet we do not distrust the Lord, but believe we can fully overcome with his heavenly aid.
Oh, what joy it gives you in your solitary moments to think of what God has done for you, and what he has promised to do, if you are faithful.
Soon the time will expire, and the work will be accomplished, and you with all of God's people will fully overcome, and his seal be set upon you. How happy will it make you then to think, I have chosen God to be my God, and his people to be my people. I have denied self and crucified my lusts. I have heeded the straight testimony, and have reverenced God, his law, and his servants, and have loved his ways and his people. I have carefully sought their good and the building up of the cause of truth. My means, my influence, and my time, have I devoted to God. Yet all is too little. I gave all up, but alas, how long I hesitated, how long I opposed. Why did the Lord forbear?
Yet, this same unworthiness, the blest assurance that God has wonderfully condescended to save you, will fill you with joy, and suffering may keep you humble.
JOS. CLARKE.