VICTORY by Albion Fox Ballenger

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 2, 1900

VICTORY

By Albion Fox Ballenger

It has often been truly said that we are in the “shaking time.” But to many this has been an indefinite expression. Yet no point of truth is clearer, both as to the theory and the practice.

Here is the theory: Under the Laodicean message, the message of righteousness by faith, the standard of holy living is exalted to the standard of the holy living of the life of Christ. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne.” He that falls short of overcoming even as Christ overcame will fall short of sitting with him on his throne, will be shaken out.

“I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing’ unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action.”

What will become of those who do not thus overcome?—“Some had been shaken out, and left by the way. The careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and salvation enough perseveringly to plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it, and were left behind in the darkness.” Thus it is seen that those who are sifted out are sifted out because they do not get the victory over sin,—over pride, love of the world, selfishness, over every wrong word and action.

Now for the practice! Reader, are you gaining the victory? If not, you are sifting out. That pride, impatience, lust, covetousness, love of the world, love of pleasure, foolish talking or jesting, criticising, evil speaking, murmuring, intemperance, or other sin, is either driving you now to the Lamb of God for victory or to the lake of fire for destruction.

Some time ago a young woman, a member of the church, came to a test in her experience: she must yield her pride or her hope of eternal life. The test came over a hat. The hat belonged to the world. She professed to belong to the Lord. She put on the hat and came to meeting. She was convicted that it was wrong to wear that hat. She left it at home at the next service. She testified to her victory. Later she was tempted again. She yielded, and came to meeting with the worldly hat. The Spirit was grieved, and she was left without conviction. Yes, worse; while the Spirit was so manifest that minister and people labored personally with sinners in the congregation, this poor girl sat and made fun. This was a fearful defeat, a sad sifting.

But while some are being sifted out, others are gaining glorious victories. Here is the story of one such victory gained by a young man:—

“I take pleasure in dropping you a few lines to tell you my experience since you have left. I had a hard fight with the devil during all the meeting. I did not have that freedom that I desired. I could not say, with the apostle Paul, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ I praise the Lord that I have the victory over my besetting sin that has enslaved me for years; and now I can truly say that ‘there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.’ I enjoy such freedom as I never before had in all my Christian experience.

“ ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ I can say that I have experienced that hungering and thirsting. Oh! praise the Lord for victory. This last week has been the most pleasant week of all my life; for I am gaining victories daily. I am not satisfied with anything short of having the fullness of the blessed Spirit. I have given myself to him to be used to his glory. I drop you these lines, thinking they may be of some help to some other poor soul who is in bondage. Oh, praise the Lord for victory!”

Verily this is the sifting time, and some are sifting out because of their besetting sins, and others are pressing in toward the throne, and gaining victories at every step. On which side are you?

A. F. BALLENGER.