Our Conflict by C. M. SNOW

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 8, 1908

Our Conflict

By C. M. SNOW

C. M. SNOW

I CAN not lift the drowsy veil Of time that is to be, Nor tell what wonders lie unsung In God’s eternity. Not mine the tongue to charm the ear— Nor yet the ear that hears The cadence of the universe, The music of the spheres.

In God’s good time the veil will lift That blinds the eye of sense, And sight shall crown our stumbling faith In God’s omnipotence.

Between the muster and the crown There lie the weary years, Filled up with conflict and with pain, With struggles and with tears.

With Hope’s far eye made clear by Faith, We view Time’s vista long, And step by step God’s mountain scale To meet his angel throng.

’Tis not in strength of human limb, Nor wisdom of our own, That we must conquer on the hills Where hosts are overthrown.

The battle is not ours, but God’s; The strength to win is his; Yea, his the helmet, shield, and sword, Yet ours the victory is. But not in pampered indolence May we go on, if then We would in heaven the ransom share Of God’s accepted men.

Six thousand years in battle-line, God’s hosts have struggled on Through desert drear or fen or flood Up toward Time’s reddening dawn; And now the Day-Star lights the east, The final charge has come; Through every vale the bugle calls, On every hill the drum.

We can not camp between the lines; We can not neutral be; For this side or for that we choose For all eternity.

For such a time God give us strength, Give sight, give wisdom, grace, That in this mighty conflict we May fill no coward’s place.

God give us men who know his power, And to his Word conform; God give us men who fear not man, Nor quail before the storm. Ah, ’tis a time to try men’s souls— The climax of a world— Where truth and falsehood stand arrayed, With battle-flags unfurled.

God’s banner over us is love, And his omniscient form Will shield the cohorts of his grace From this onrushing storm.

Stand fearless, then, whate’er the place Our God may give you here; ’Tis only they who quit his ranks That need to harbor fear. In God’s strength find the power you need; For counsel seek his face; Where’er your Leader stations you, That is your safest place. Thus armed and clothed with power divine, In wisdom thus arrayed, Go forth, go forward, valiant go, Nor ever be dismayed.

Takoma Park, D. C.