The Secret of Overcoming by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 12, 1916

The Secret of Overcoming

By G. B. Thompson

I AM convinced that one of the real secrets of defeat in the Christian life is that we do not hate sin as we should. Temptation comes, in one guise or another, because there is something in the heart that responds to it, some wishing that yielding to the temptation were not wrong, some hankering after the evil thing. So we yield, and commit sin. Temptation itself is not sin; Christ was tempted. It is the yielding to temptation that is sin.

Christ “hated iniquity.” The apostle exhorts us to “abhor that which is evil.” Rom. 12:9. This is the secret of overcoming. We must abhor evil. We do not fellowship and keep company with those whom we dislike. We are not found walking the streets with them arm in arm. The thing we hate we shun; we let it alone. We have nothing whatever to do with it. So with sin. When we hate it, we shall separate from it.

The truly converted heart feels a spontaneous abhorrence of sin. The vile and evil suggestions which come from the flesh are repugnant, and will be spurned like the slimy, venomous coil of a viper. We loathe the sin, and flee from it. Here is where many fail, and are overcome by some temptation of the adversary. Instead of prompt rejection, they make some favorable response.

Suppose some dangerous and unprincipled villain comes to your home and seeks admittance. You recognize him as a scoundrel of the most depraved and degraded class, the ringleader of a band of cutthroats, and know that he is seeking your ruin and the destruction of others. It is one thing to shut the door in his face, bidding him depart; but quite another thing to invite him in, bidding him welcome, and expressing your pleasure at having such a man come and become your guest. It does not in any way compromise your character to have him come to your door unsolicited and knock for admittance; but your character is compromised when you invite him in, and make him welcome in your home.

So it is with sin. Temptations, evil thoughts, and wrong suggestions will come into the mind. If we repudiate them and put them away, we do not sin. But if we harbor them, are glad they have come, wish that yielding to the evil temptation were not sinful, we are overcome. Another writer has said: “Thoughts of evil become evil thoughts only when they are pleasing to us. Joseph had thoughts of evil suggested to him by the temptress. He could not help thinking about the sin; but he had no desire—it was abhorrent to him. Hence they were not evil thoughts. A Greater than Joseph, when tempted of the devil to make stones into bread in the wilderness, to cast himself down from a pinnacle of the temple, and to worship the devil, could not refrain from the mental act of thinking of these sins; but he did not dally a moment with the thought, but said, ‘Get thee behind me, Satan.’”

Truly one important thing in overcoming sin is to hate that which is wrong, and love that which is pure and holy. Then, by faith in Jesus, through the Spirit we shall triumph. Our daily prayer should be that the Lord, through the indwelling power of the Spirit, will give us a new mind, created after the image of him who created us. Then we shall hate sin, and love righteousness, and from the fire of temptation come forth victors. G. B. THOMPSON.