Overcomers by W. C. Gage

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 1, 1864

Overcomers.

By W. C. Gage

How often do we hear the children of God in these last days express a fervent desire to be "overcomers," and how frequently does the prayer ascend, "Lord, help us to overcome;" and the question naturally suggests itself, "What have we to overcome?" It certainly becomes us to make some inquiry into the magnitude of the task before us, that we may be the better able to properly estimate the exertion required to contend with the obstacles in our pathway. In Rom. xii, 21 we read "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." This text teaches us that the power with which we contend is not passive but aggressive, and that unless we overcome it we shall ourselves be overcome by it. It also enlightens us as to what we have to contend with, namely evil. Whenever and wherever we come in contact with evil influences in any form we have a battle to fight, and, if the Lord is our strength, a victory to win. Thus it is all the way through life's journey, a continual warfare, a "good fight of faith." 1 Tim. vi, 12.

Probably the first hard fought battle of every one who turns from the way of death unto the "living way," is the struggle to overcome self, or as the apostle terms it, "the flesh." Study carefully the experience of the apostle Paul, in Rom. vii, and you will find him contending against the "law in his members" which hindered him in his efforts to obey God, so that notwithstanding he served the law of God with his mind he was compelled with "the flesh" to serve "the law of sin." This seems to be the difficulty with many of the latter-day professors, and perhaps we are all of us too much infested with it, most of us being able to say "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Some are very much inclined to console themselves with the fact that Paul was similarly situated, and are contented to rest their cases right there; but let us follow the apostle a little farther and see if he remained in that state in which he was constrained to call himself a "wretched man." In the next chapter we find him rejoicing in the fact that there is now "no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit," and that he has been "made free from the law of sin and death" by "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." Let us then take Paul for an example, and consider ourselves "wretched" indeed until the "law of the Spirit" has enabled us to become free in Christ, and then shall we have obtained the victory and overcome the flesh.

Another power with which we have to contend, and which we must overcome, is that in which our blessed Lord and Master himself gave us an example. In Jno. xvi, 33, he says, "I have overcome the world." Blessed words! Our high Priest and Intercessor "was in all points tempted like as we are," and can help us to overcome even as he also overcame. When the temptations and trials incident to this world of sin and sorrow are brought to bear upon us, as they often are in a manner that threatens to overwhelm us, how delightful the thought that we can go to him and pour out our griefs into an ear that is ever open to hear, and relate all our trials to one who knows just the meaning of every word and the weight of every trial from an experience exactly corresponding with that of us poor mortals. How much more pleasant it is even in our earthly friendships to hear the words of consolation and sympathy from those who have passed through trials similar to our own, and what real benefit do we often derive from their experience. How much more then, may we expect assistance from one who not only can but will grant us the timely aid we need to help us in overcoming the world. In 1 Jno. v, 4, we read "and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." We may learn from this that faith is a necessary assistant, or means by which we may obtain the requisite aid and strength. We need a practical, working faith in this as well as in every thing else; a faith that will stand the test to which it will be put in these trying times. In order to successfully overcome the world we must see to it that we do not have too much interest in it; that our affections are not bound to it by too many strong cords, or in other words we must completely correspond to the description of our Saviour. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Jno. xvii, 16. We could hardly expect a soldier to enter with ardor into battle with a nation and people with whom his affections were bound up, and where all his earthly interests and treasures were located; and the same principle holds good with regard to the soldier of Christ. He cannot manfully and boldly contend with the evils that are in the world if his interests and affections are of a worldly nature, nor can he expect to overcome with half-hearted exertions, or anything less than a manful determination to win.

But of all the enemies to which we are compelled to give battle, none so powerful as the author of all evil, that arch-enemy, the Devil. So little do we estimate his power, and so wily are his exertions to destroy, that we are less on our guard against him than we should be if we were fully acquainted with the nature and ability of this terrible enemy of all righteousness. We should remember that he is cunning and crafty, and ever ready to take advantage of any unguarded moment to accomplish our destruction. The Scriptures furnish us abundance of evidence of his great wisdom and power, and also of his activity in "seeking whom he may devour." And this enemy we must overcome if we would "inherit all things." Well might we shrink back from the contest if the battle were to be fought in our own strength, but we have the blessed promise of grace sufficient for our day. We know that if we submit ourselves to God and resist the Devil he will flee from us; Jas. iv, 7; and notwithstanding his snares are laid for us on every hand, a way of escape will be made with every temptation, that we may be able to bear it.

In view of the magnitude of the work before us, we need much encouragement that we may enter upon the task with a zeal and determination which will insure a victory. That encouragement is found in the precious promises that are held out to those who finally overcome. They are contained in Rev. ii, 7, 11, 17, 26; iii, 5, 12, 21; xxi, 7, and may be briefly summed up as follows: a glorious eternal inheritance, the privilege of reigning with Christ, in eternal life, to be recognized as members of the family of Heaven, and having a right to the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God. Is not all this worth striving for? Then let us be faithful, remembering that we have but a little while longer to struggle amid the waves of trouble and sorrow before our trials will be ended, and the powers of earth will be overcome by the Lamb, "for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful." Rev. xvii, 14. Dear brethren and sisters, may it be your lot and mine to be of the faithful and chosen ones.