p. 139 | THE WORK OF VICTORY by Vesta Cady

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 3, 1877

THE WORK OF VICTORY.

By Vesta Cady

We are often discouraged in the work of overcoming our sins, because we don't know just what to do, to get the blessing of God. We wish to do right, and we try; but through the weakness of the flesh, or under the influence of strong temptation, we yield, and lose our peace of mind. Then we take up our Bible and read passages like the following: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven, is perfect;” and again, “Finally, brethren, farewell; be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace.” You close the book, and meditate something like this: Jesus tells me to be perfect; and the apostle has added to this the injunction to be of good comfort, and to have peace toward God and man. I can never do it. My sins are like mountains weighing me down, and my soul is sadly discouraged on account of my many failures. Oh! if I might find peace, and feel that I was accepted of my Lord, how happy I should be; but I fear that I am not his child, and never can be on account of my many faults.

But let us look at the history and writings of one whom all will acknowledge was accepted of God. Paul in Phil. 3:12, 14, says concerning himself, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, . . . but this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth to the things which are before, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God, in Christ Jesus.” And again in the fifteenth verse of the same chapter we read, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect be thus minded.” Here is a seeming contradiction. He has just said that he was imperfect, and now he says, “Let as many as be perfect,” implying that there were perfect ones. Paul was probably as nearly perfect as any man then living, but when he compared his character, with that of Jesus, and realized his purity and holiness, he felt there were new conquests to make, and always would be as long as life should last.

This work of gaining perfection, is not a short work, but one that will continue while we live, and we shall be continually reaching forward for new attainments. But though Paul saw himself imperfect, he did not give up the contest in despair. Oh! no; he was looking forward to new conquests and victories over sin and the flesh. He did not sit down in discouragement, and think because he had once failed that he would give up the conflict, but with greater vigor he presses forward. He saw Jesus, in the distance; the prize, too at the end of the journey. No excuse for lagging behind; no time to sit down and bewail the misfortunes of the way.

This should be our position. Not that we should tolerate sin, but learn from the past wisdom for the future. Where we have made mistakes, strive to make right those mistakes, and take care that they do not again occur. This is all we can do. If we ever enter through the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem, it will be through the merits of Him who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. How unjust for us to become discouraged, to question the plans of the great Father, in regard to our welfare! Let us take all as coming from his hand, trusting fully and completely in his ability to bring us safe through, and thus we shall progress in the work of victory.

VESTA CADY.

Poy Sippi, Wis.