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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
moral courage to deny appetite? His habits have not been in harmony
with the truth and with the Testimonies of reproof which God has seen
fit to give His people. His conscience was not altogether dead. He
knew that he could not serve God and indulge his appetite; therefore
he yielded to the temptation of Satan, which was too strong for him
to resist in his own strength. He was overcome. He has assigned his
want of interest in the truth to other causes than the true one in order
to cover his own weak purpose and the real cause of his backsliding
from God, which was uncontrolled appetite.
This is where many stumble; they waver between denial of appetite
and its indulgence, and finally are overcome by the enemy and yield
the truth. Many who have backslidden from the truth assign as a
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reason for their course that they do not have faith in the Testimonies.
Investigation reveals the fact that they had some sinful habit that God
has condemned through the Testimonies. The question now is: Will
they yield their idol which God condemns, or will they continue in
their wrong course of indulgence and reject the light God has given
them reproving the very things in which they delight? The question to
be settled with them is: Shall I deny myself and receive as of God the
Testimonies which reprove my sins, or shall I reject the Testimonies
because they reprove my sins?
In many cases the Testimonies are fully received, the sin and in-
dulgence broken off, and reformation at once commences in harmony
with the light God has given. In other instances sinful indulgences are
cherished, the Testimonies are rejected, and many excuses which are
untrue are offered to others as the reason for refusing to receive them.
The true reason is not given. It is a lack of moral courage—a will,
strengthened and controlled by the Spirit of God, to renounce hurtful
habits.
It is not an easy matter to overcome an established taste for nar-
cotics and stimulants. In the name of Christ alone can this great victory
be gained. He overcame in behalf of man in the long fast of nearly
six weeks in the wilderness of temptation. He sympathizes with the
weakness of man. His love for fallen man was so great that He made
an infinite sacrifice that He might reach him in his degradation and
through His divine power finally elevate him to His throne. But it rests
with man whether Christ shall accomplish for him that which He is
fully able to do.