The Triumphant Life by Allen Walker

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 11, 1912

The Triumphant Life

By Allen Walker

ALLEN WALKER

DURING the closing days of the apostle Paul’s life, he could look back over the hardships and trials through which he had passed, and could say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:7, 8. His was the triumphant life. And only those who can say, as did the apostle, “I have fought a good fight,” “I have kept the faith,” will be entitled to the “crown of righteousness.” By following the instruction given us in God’s Word, it is possible for every child of God to live the same triumphant life that the apostle Paul lived.

In 1 Cor. 11:1 we find the secret of his successful Christian career: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Paul followed Christ. His life was copied after the divine Pattern left us by our Saviour. Herein lay his success, and the success of all who have lived and are living a life worthy of the crown of righteousness. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6. This is what Paul did, and those whose Christian lives are not in harmony with this instruction have yet to “come up higher” in order to be included among those who enter the pearly gates.

By abiding in Christ it is possible for every child of God to “walk, even as he walked.” Christ bids us follow him. He says: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23. If we are not doing this, we are living below our possibilities. It is possible for us to follow Christ and walk even as he walked, through the strength which he imparts to us. We know it is possible because the Saviour would not ask us to do something which it is impossible to do. And we know it is possible because Paul tells us that he followed Christ. We should ever bear in mind that when the Saviour began his life here, which was to be our example, he partook of our nature, and was in all points tempted as we are, “Forasmuch then as the children [we] are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same.” Heb. 2:14. Had he not done this, his life would not have been a perfect example for us; because it would have required us to do something in our fleshy nature which he did in his divine nature. But the Captain of our salvation did not do this. “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” Thus his nature was no stronger to resist temptation than is ours. He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” And yet it can be said of him that he “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:22. And he “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15.

Now the question is, Can we live the same triumphant life which the Saviour lived? Can we live this same perfect example of “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”? In answer to these important questions, we are assured that, in the strength of God, we can. In “Desire of Ages,” page 25, we find these words: “Therefore Jesus was ‘in all points tempted like as we are.’ He endured every trial to which we are subject. And he exercised in his behalf no power that is not freely offered to us. As man, he met temptation, and overcame in the strength given him of God.” How full of courage are these words! What wonderful possibilities are ours! Surely the eternal God is our refuge, and “underneath are the everlasting arms.” Jesus says, “Without me ye can do nothing.” As he depended upon his Father for strength to meet temptation, even so must we depend upon Jesus every moment for strength to enable us to conquer Satan. We must “let this mind be in” us “which was also in Christ Jesus”; and we must “let Christ dwell in our hearts richly by faith.” Then when Satan comes with his temptations, no matter how severe, he will find Christ in our heart, who is the “same yesterday, and to-day, and forever,” who has never yielded to a single temptation, and who is as strong to resist temptation to-day as when he was so strongly assailed by the enemy in the wilderness. It will be impossible for him to cause us to yield, because “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Let us grasp with all our heart the fact that it is impossible for Satan to cause us to yield to a single temptation without our consent; for the Scripture says: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able to bear; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10:13. How grateful we should be that it is possible for us, like Paul, to live after the example left us by our Saviour! And day by day as we live this life, how strong and far-reaching will be our influence for good! “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

Orlando, Fla.