Fight of Faith
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her. She reaches her loved home in the lofty crag, and is satisfied. It
was through darkness that she reached the light. It cost her an effort to
do this, but she is rewarded in gaining the object which she sought.
This is the only course we can pursue as followers of Christ. We
must exercise that living faith, which will penetrate the clouds that,
like a thick wall, separate us from heaven’s light. We have heights of
faith to reach, where all is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
A Lifelong Conflict
Have you ever watched a hawk in pursuit of a timid dove? Instinct
has taught the dove that in order for the hawk to seize his prey, he
must gain a loftier flight than his victim. So she rises higher and still
higher in the blue dome of heaven, ever pursued by the hawk, which is
seeking to obtain the advantage. But in vain. The dove is safe as long
as she allows nothing to stop her in her flight, or draw her earthward;
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but let her once falter, and take a lower flight, and her watchful enemy
will swoop down upon his victim. Again and again have we watched
this scene with almost breathless interest, all our sympathies with the
little dove. How sad we should have felt to see it fall a victim to the
cruel hawk!
We have before us a warfare,—a lifelong conflict with Satan and
his seductive temptations. The enemy will use every argument, every
deception, to entangle the soul; and in order to win the crown of life,
we must put forth earnest, persevering effort. We must not lay off the
armor or leave the battlefield until we have gained the victory, and can
triumph in our Redeemer. As long as we continue to keep our eyes
fixed upon the Author and Finisher of our faith, we shall be safe. But
our affections must be placed upon things above, not on things of the
earth. By faith we must rise higher and still higher in the attainment
of the graces of Christ. By daily contemplating His matchless charms,
we must grow more and more into His glorious image. While we
thus live in communion with Heaven, Satan will lay his nets for us in
vain.—
The Youth’s Instructor, May 12, 1898
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