584
The Desire of Ages
the Lord, and My God shall be My strength.” It is to Christ that the
promise is given, “Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and
His Holy One, to Him whom man despiseth, to Him whom the nation
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abhorreth; ... thus saith the Lord: ... I will preserve Thee, and give
Thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to
inherit the desolate heritages; that Thou mayest say to the prisoners,
Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves.... They shall
not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He
that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water
shall He guide them.”
Isaiah 49:4, 5, 7-10
.
Upon this word Jesus rested, and He gave Satan no advantage.
When the last steps of Christ’s humiliation were to be taken, when the
deepest sorrow was closing about His soul, He said to His disciples,
“The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” “The
prince of this world is judged.” Now shall he be cast out.
John 14:30
;
16:11
;
12:31
. With prophetic eye Christ traced the scenes to take place
in His last great conflict. He knew that when He should exclaim, “It is
finished,” all heaven would triumph. His ear caught the distant music
and the shouts of victory in the heavenly courts. He knew that the
knell of Satan’s empire would then be sounded, and the name of Christ
would be heralded from world to world throughout the universe.
Christ rejoiced that He could do more for His followers than they
could ask or think. He spoke with assurance, knowing that an almighty
decree had been given before the world was made. He knew that truth,
armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in
the contest with evil; and that the bloodstained banner would wave
triumphantly over His followers. He knew that the life of His trusting
disciples would be like His, a series of uninterrupted victories, not
seen to be such here, but recognized as such in the great hereafter.
“These things I have spoken unto you,” He said, “that in Me ye
might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Christ did not fail, neither was
He discouraged, and His followers are to manifest a faith of the same
enduring nature. They are to live as He lived, and work as He worked,
because they depend on Him as the great Master Worker. Courage,
energy, and perseverance they must possess. Though apparent impossi-
bilities obstruct their way, by His grace they are to go forward. Instead
of deploring difficulties, they are called upon to surmount them. They