HE SHALL NOT FAIL NOR BE DISCOURAGED.
By Ellen G. White
IN His mission of mercy to our world, Christ was constantly confronted with apparent failure. He seemed to do little of the work He longed to do in uplifting and saving. Satanic influences were constantly working to obstruct His way. But He would not be discouraged. Through the prophecy of Isaiah He declared: "I have labored in vain,
I have spent My strength for naught, and in vain;
Yet surely My judgment is with the Lord,
And My work with My God. . . .
Tho Israel be not gathered,
Yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord,
And My God shall be My strength."
It was to Christ that the promise was given: "It is a light thing that thou shouldst be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved of Israel.
I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles,
That Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth."
Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and His Holy One,
To Him whom man despiseth, to Him whom the nation abhorreth, . . .
Thus saith the Lord:
"In an acceptable time have I heard Thee,
And in a day of salvation have I helped Thee;
And I will preserve Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people,
To establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
That Thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth;
To them that are in darkness, Show yourselves.
They shall not hunger nor thirst;
Neither shall the heat nor sun smite them;
For He that hath mercy on them shall lead them,
Even by the springs of water shall He guide them."
Upon this word Jesus rested, and He gave Satan no advantage. When the last steps of Christ's humiliation were to be taken, when the deepest sorrow was closing about His soul, He said to His disciples, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me." "The prince of this world is judged." "Now shall the prince of this world be cast out." With prophetic eye Christ traced the scenes to take place in His last great conflict. He knew that when He should exclaim, "It is finished!" all heaven would triumph. His ear caught the distant music and the shouts of victory in the heavenly courts. He knew that the knell of Satan's empire would then be sounded, and the name of Christ would be heralded from world to world throughout the universe. Christ rejoiced that He could do more for His followers than they would ask or think. He spoke with assurance, knowing that an almighty decree had been given before the world was made. He knew that truth, armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the contest with evil; and that the blood-stained banner would wave triumphantly over His followers. He knew that the life of His trusting disciples would be like His, a series of uninterrupted victories, not seen to be such here, but recognized as such in the great hereafter. "These things have I spoken unto you," He said, "that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Christ did not fail, neither was He discouraged, and His followers are to manifest a faith of the same enduring nature. Tho apparent impossibilities obstruct their way, by His grace they are to go forward. Instead of deploring difficulties, they are called upon to overcome them. They are to despair of nothing and to hope for everything. With the golden chain of His matchless love, Christ has bound them to the throne of God. It is His purpose that the highest influence in the universe, emanating from the source of all power, shall be theirs. They are to have power to resist evil, power that neither earth nor death nor hell can master.