Victory Through Faith by G. W. White

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1911

Victory Through Faith

By G. W. White

G. W. WHITE

VICTORY is to be had through faith in what the Son of God has done for us. Our loving Heavenly Father has placed it within the reach of every one. If he had placed it within the reach of only the rich, the cultured, the learned, the mighty of earth, the majority would be without hope; but, thank God, it is for every one who will take it by faith. This brings it within the reach of the poorest, the most ignorant, the weakest and humblest of earth, as well as of those more highly favored in the things of this world. “The just shall live by faith.” Heb. 10:38. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.

On the cross, Jesus purchased for us a salvation which is full and complete. He purchased for us salvation from the sins of the past, and from the sins of the present. Thank God, he purchased for us a decisive victory over sin, that, being delivered “from the power of darkness,” and translated “into the kingdom of his dear Son,” and being made free from sin, and become the servants of God and of righteousness, we henceforth should not serve sin but have our “fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Col. 1:13; Rom. 6:18, 6, 22. We are free, free indeed; and we are eternally free, if we will only believe it. But we must believe it first, and then it will become a part of our actual experience. Faith first, then fruition. Just as surely as we believe with all our hearts that Christ imparts to us the victory that he gained over sin and Satan, just so surely will it become a part of our experience. No truth is more profusely illustrated in

the Scriptures than this. For our encouragement, to strengthen our faith and help us obtain this victory, this freedom from sin, this preparation for the latter rain, let us look at—

Some Object-Lessons in the Old Testament

When Israel had crossed the Red Sea, and stood on the opposite banks, they sang a remarkable song of deliverance. Ex. 15:1-21. But why did they not sing it on the other side? When the Egyptians pressed them sorely, and destruction seemed imminent, why were there only expressions of doubt, murmuring, and faultfinding to be heard?—With the large majority there was but little faith. Moses had faith, and stretched forth his rod, and the result was deliverance and this sweet song from the lips of Israel’s thousands: “I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously.” Ex. 15:1. That was a wonderful time in the life of that downtrodden people, and those mountains had never echoed and reechoed a sweeter song than on that day which marked the overthrow of Pharaoh’s host; but O, how much sweeter it would have been had it been sung on the very land of the enemy, where the triumph was just as sure as if it had already taken place! During the forty years of varied experiences in the wilderness, God was trying to teach this people to sing the song of triumph by faith, that it might afterward become a part of their experience.

Israel crossed the Jordan by faith, and the following day it was wrought into their experience, and their hearts were strengthened for the stupendous task that had staggered the faith of their fathers forty years before—the conquest of the promised land.

Look, now, at the result of this step of faith. We see the people next encamped in Gilgal. While they were here, the Lord said to Joshua: “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.” Joshua 5:9. The “reproach of Egypt,”—unbelief, doubts, murmurings, sin! Ah, faith had taken possession of their hearts. They had learned to walk by faith, to accept the victory by faith; and when faith possessed them, the “reproach of Egypt” had to go.

By Faith Israel Took Jericho

Now, note what followed when the “reproach of Egypt” was rolled away. Immediately the Lord appeared to Joshua, saying, “As captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.” Joshua 5:14. As such he led them forth from victory unto victory, and divine power and providential workings were continually seen among them. Let us not forget the promise to us: “When the reproach of indolence and slothfulness shall have been wiped away from the church, the Spirit of the Lord will be graciously manifested. Divine power will be revealed. The church will see the providential working of the Lord of hosts.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 46.

While at Gilgal, the Lord said unto Joshua, “See, I have given into thine hand Jericho.” Joshua 6:2. Not until a week later did Jericho fall, and Israel take possession. How could Joshua “see” a thing before it had taken place?—Ah, he looked with the eye of faith. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen;” and by it “the walls of Jericho fell down.” Heb. 11:1, 30. Faith reaches out, grasps the future, and says, It is done. How soul-inspiring to look upon those hosts of Israel surrounding Jericho, armed only with trumpets and rams’ horns, the jeering multitude on the massive walls, when suddenly a mighty trumpet blast seems to shake the earth, a victorious shout from the lips of Israel’s warriors rends the air, and with a crash the walls fall in ruins.

Israel believed it a week before; now it is an actual experience with them.

Lack of space will not permit us to follow Israel to Ai, through their humiliation because of self-sufficiency, and through their final triumph by faith over that place; but the lesson for us is obvious. The Lord says to us, See; I have given you victory over that sin; I have given you the victory over those sins of commission, over those sins of omission; I have given you victory over that sin of “indolence and slothfulness,” over “every besetment, over pride, love of the world, selfishness, and over every wrong word and action.”

O let us by faith take that victory! Let us believe it, and enter into the freedom of the children of the King. Then “the Spirit of the Lord will be graciously manifested. Divine power will be revealed. The church will see the providential working of the Lord of hosts. The light of truth will shine forth in clear, strong rays, and as in the time of the apostles, many souls will turn from error to truth. The earth will be lighted with the glory of the Lord.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 46. “Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost.”—Id., Vol. V, page 214. Then this work will be cut short in righteousness. Then the Lord will come in power and great glory, and gather his people home.

Beloved, this is not speculation, it is not mere theory; it is the Lord’s own word, it is his own way, and he calls us to walk in it.

Beatrice, Neb.