Chapter 39
The Way Of Victory
Throughout the Scripture the life of a true Christian is likened to that of a warrior on the field of battle. Paul, in writing to his son Timothy, exhorts him to “fight the good fight of faith” and to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” The world, the flesh and the devil unite and conspire against such as have declared their allegiance to Jesus Christ. In view of these opposing forces multitudes have concluded they could not live religious lives. The fact that others have gone down in defeat and failure has discouraged many.
We want to insist, there is a way of victory, and, therefore there can he no legitimate excuse for failure. Whenever persons backslide they invariably lay the blame to adverse conditions; some one did not treat them right, or their environments were unfavorable, etc., etc. We wish to state here that no persons have ever yet backslidden until they themselves have consented to backslide. God has made ample provision for victory and has given the pledge of victory to every one of his children, regardless of the conditions and temptations that may surround them. Great trials simply make way for great grace, and the greater the conflict, the grander the victory. In fact, there can be no victory without a conflict.
There is a way of victory; faith in God and faithfulness insure victory, always and everywhere. The “whole armor of God,” according. to Eph 6:11-17, makes the least of God’s children invulnerable and invincible. Not only may we be conquerors, but “more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Rom. 8:37.)
In Revelation I. 2:11 we read, “They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Entire abandonment to God, unwavering faith in the blood, and faithful and uncompromising testimony is the way of victory for every soul.
First, note the intensity of their consecration: “they loved not their lives unto the death.” They were not playing at religion, nor simply trying to serve the Lord in their “own weak way and manner,” but were ready and willing to lay down their lives for Jesus’ sake. Multitudes are consecrated to do what they feel like doing, providing it does not mean any self-denial or sacrifice but few, comparatively, are ready to lay down their lives for Jesus’ sake. Real consecration will be true at any cost, even though the pathway of duty lead through the fiery furnace, the lion’s den, and into death itself.
Second, the blood of Jesus is the meritorious cause of victory. Satan appears as the accuser of the brethren. But the blood has atoned for, and covered every sin. Unwavering faith in the blood is necessary in order to withstand the attacks and accusations of the devil. How often the trusting heart has put Satan to flight by singing:
“The blood, the blood is all my plea,
Hallelujah! for it cleanseth me.”
Satan cannot withstand the blood of Jesus. It was shed for me, it avails for me; it cleanseth me; this is the language of faith. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench ALL the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Third, they stuck to the facts of experience and dared to bear testimony to the same. It was not by argument, or by theorizing or dogmatizing, but by “the word of their testimony” they “overcame.” Multitudes suffer defeat because they first compromise at the point of testimony. Instead of humbly bearing testimony to the power of the all-cleansing blood to sanctify and cleanse from all sin, they have given some evasive, indefinite testimony or exhortation so as not to evoke criticism and persecution, and so lost the victory out of their souls, and soon went down in defeat. Faith drives the nail, and testimony clinches it so the devil can’t draw it, and ascribes the glory to Jesus that belongs to Him. This is the way of victory.
The Lord save us from being hot-house Christians, having to be coaxed and coddled to keep us religious. God has an experience and grace for every one of us that will enable us to live on the heights, and shout the victory, though all the hounds of hell are barking at our heels, and all the powers of darkness combine against us. There are no circumstances with God; “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” There is a way of victory! Hallelujah! “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” While Satan is mighty, our God is Almighty! “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.” (Rev. 3:21.)