The Christian Warfare by M. W. Purdon

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 17, 1872

The Christian Warfare.

By M. W. Purdon

The life of the Christian is unquestionably a continual warfare; but we do not engage in this warfare in our own strength. With the world is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us, and fight our battles for us. The life of the Christian is as an army contending with the enemy. The enemy is continually watching for the weak points. He is not going to attack his foe in those strong positions that he holds, at first; but he sees a point which his foe has not guarded sufficiently. Nevertheless, it is a position of great importance, but the army has failed to guard this point. The enemy attacks this point, and if he succeeds in gaining it, he has got a decided victory in his favor. He has taken a point that is of great importance, and it tends to weaken the strength of that army to a great degree. It has possibly cut off communication with the great commander-in-chief, and they have no way to get reinforcements so long as the enemy holds that position. They are in a very critical condition. The enemy is aware of the fact, and he is going to push the matter through, step by step, and finally take the whole army captive at his will.

So it is in the Christian race. If we would succeed in this great and glorious warfare, we must guard well every point, and give no chance for the enemy to gain any position whatever. We all know, or may know, our weak points. We should see to it that we guard well those points. As I have remarked, We do not engage in this warfare in our own strength. With us is the Lord our God to help us. From him we can get reinforcements from day to day, to strengthen those weak points. It is not only our duty to hold our position, but we should be continually on the advance, gaining ground. There is no standing still in this warfare. We are either losing or gaining ground. The enemy is ever on the alert, going about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, therefore we should ever be on the watch, keeping our eye on the mark of the prize, and continually getting reinforcements from our great Commander-in-Chief, who has said, Ask, and ye shall receive. Still keep advancing steadily onward with unfaltering step, keeping the enemy at bay, and finally come off conquerors through Christ our great captain, and with all the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all the saints, join that everlasting kingdom and enter through the gates into that city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

M. W. Purdon.