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Firm Reliance on Christ, September 23
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may
abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13
.
At times a deep sense of our unworthiness will send a thrill of terror through the
soul; but this is no evidence that God has changed toward us, or we toward God....
We should by faith grasp the hand of Christ, and trust Him as fully in the darkness
as in the light.
Satan may whisper, “You are too great a sinner for Christ to save.” While you
acknowledge that you are indeed sinful and unworthy, you may meet the tempter
with the cry, “By virtue of the atonement, I claim Christ as my Saviour. I trust not to
my own merits, but to the precious blood of Jesus, which cleanses me. This moment
I hang my helpless soul on Christ.” The Christian life must be a life of constant,
living faith. An unyielding trust, a firm reliance upon Christ, will bring peace and
assurance to the soul....
Every obstacle, every internal foe, only increases your need of Christ. He came
to take away the heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh. Look to Him for special
grace to overcome your peculiar faults. When assailed by temptation, steadfastly
resist the evil promptings; say to your soul, “How can I dishonor my Redeemer? I
have given myself to Christ; I cannot do the works of Satan.” Cry to the dear Saviour
for help to sacrifice every idol, and to put away every darling sin. Let the eye of faith
see Jesus standing before the Father’s throne, presenting His wounded hands as He
pleads for you. Believe that strength comes to you through your precious Saviour.
By faith look upon the crowns laid up for those who shall overcome; listen
to the exultant song of the redeemed, Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain
and hast redeemed us to God! Endeavor to regard these scenes as real. Stephen,
the first Christian martyr, in his terrible conflict with principalities and powers,
and spiritual wickedness in high places, exclaimed, “Behold, I see the heavens
opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” The Saviour of the
world was revealed to him as looking down from heaven upon him with the deepest
interest; and the glorious light of Christ’s countenance shone upon Stephen with
such brightness that even his enemies saw his face shine like the face of an angel.
If we would permit our minds to dwell more upon Christ and the heavenly world,
we should find a powerful stimulus and support in fighting the battles of the Lord.
Pride and love of the world will lose their power as we contemplate the glories of
that better land so soon to be our home. Beside the loveliness of Christ, all earthly
attractions will seem of little worth (
The Review and Herald, November 15, 1887
).
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