p. 101 | Christian Experience by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 10, 1872

Christian Experience.

By R. F. Cottrell

WHEN a person is truly converted to God, a great change takes place in the affections and desires of the heart. Sinful pleasures, which before looked so charming and desirable, now have lost their charms. Sin looks hateful, and the path of virtue and holiness looks lovely; and the young Christian thinks that he cannot be tempted to sin again. But trials come; and he finds, perhaps to his surprise, that temptations will come, and that the Christian course has its conflicts all the way until it is finished. Then the Christain can say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

It would be pleasant indeed, if the new hope of the ardent believer could be realized; if sin could be so thoroughly eradicated from the heart that temptation could no more assail; the poisonous plant torn out to its lowest roots, so that there would be no possibility of its sprouting again; the viper crushed to death, so that there could be no fear of a revival. It would be very pleasant to have the contest ended, to rest from the labor, to lay off the armor and be at peace. But God has, in his wisdom and goodness, ordered it otherwise. We must be willing to struggle on; to run with patience the race that is set before us. But we have this blessed assurance, that it is possible for us to so run that we may obtain.

When the mediator of the new covenant shall have finished his mediation, by blotting out the sins of all his redeemed, the law of God will be perfectly written in their hearts, the conflict with temptation will be ended, and it will be as natural and easy to do right as it is now to do wrong. The warfare will be over, the time of resting will have come. Till then, “Ne’er think the victory won, Nor lay thy armor down; Thy arduous task will not be done” till thy probation is ended and thou art adjudged worthy of the crown of life.

“Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, or a day. It is a continual growth in grace. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. Satan lives, and is active, and every day we need to earnestly cry to God for help and strength to resist him. As long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetments to overcome, and there is no stopping place. There is no point to which we can come and say we have fully attained.” Testimonies, Vol. 1, pp. 337, 338.

But though trials and conflicts will continue to come, the Christian may be victorious every time. He need not live in the seventh of Romans, doing continually what he disapproves. He may get into the eighth, where he can say, “There is therefore now no condemnation,” and, “Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This perfect victory over sin should, and must, be the aim of every Christian. To aim at less is to be a willing servant of sin. Then wage a war of extermination against the many-headed monster, and by the promised help of God you may be a victor to the end. Then shall come the time of resting.

R. F. COTTRELL.