Shall Not Have Dominion
By T.
ONE of the most soul-comforting and soul-uplifting texts in all the Bible is this: "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Rom. 6:14. It is decreed by the Almighty that "sin shall not have dominion over you." He who said in the beginning, "Let there be light: and there was light," and He who "spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast," even He is the same one who has also said that "sin shall not have dominion over you." Then when seeking to break away from old habits, while overpowering temptations are confronting us with their seemingly irresistible force, we can take refuge in the great citadel of power, in the decree that "sin shall not have dominion over you." And He who uttered this decree is the all-powerful Creator. The power that supports this mighty world upon which we live, yea, even all the power that sustains and guides each and every world that moves in space, is back of the statement that "sin shall not have dominion over you." Temptation may be rolling up before us like the mighty tides. It may seem as irresistible as the ocean waves. But there is One who has said of the mighty deep, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shalt thy proud waves be stayed." Job 38:11. And this same One has also said, "Sin shall not have dominion over you." It is hopeless for us to think of holding back the waves of the great rolling sea. It is just as hopeless for us to think of resisting in our own strength the great power of temptation. But there is rest in the knowledge of the fact that we may take refuge in the power of Him who is infinite. When the Lord uttered the words, "Sin shall not have dominion over you," those words became an all-powerful, living law for every one who will avail himself of its operations. We may despair of conquering the temptations that have so often conquered us, but in our moment of despair we remember that all power belongs to Him who has uttered the decree against the dominion of sin. All power can do all things. There is nothing beyond its reach. As we comprehend this, we begin to realize that we are moving into a mighty fortress of power. The sense of power takes possession of us and dispels the sense of weakness and fear. We stand upon the decree of our Father. We calmly, confidently, and in the might of reverent trust, say to the mad billows of temptation, We are in the fortress of Him who is able to say, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shalt thy proud waves be stayed." Having enjoyed a few of these victories by relying upon His Word, we learn to trust His power. We learn that there is something far better than the constant fear that we may fall under temptation. We learn the meaning of the exhortation in James, "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." The Lord would have us remove our eyes from the power of the temptation to the power that He has provided to deliver us from temptation.