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The Ministry of Health and Healing
The strongest evidence that humanity has fallen from a higher
state is the fact that it costs so much to return. The way of return
can be gained only by hard fighting, inch by inch, hour by hour. In
one moment, by a hasty, unguarded act, we may place ourselves in
the power of evil, but it requires more than a moment to break the
fetters and attain to a holier life. The purpose may be formed, the
process begun, but its accomplishment will require hard work, time,
perseverance, patience, and sacrifice.
We cannot allow ourselves to act from impulse. We cannot be
off guard for a moment. Faced with temptations without number,
we must resist firmly or be conquered. If we were to come to the
close of life with our work undone, it would be an eternal loss.
The life of the apostle Paul was a constant conflict with self. He
said, “I die daily.”
1 Corinthians 15:31
. His will and his desires
every day conflicted with duty and the will of God. But instead of
following inclination, he did God’s will, however crucifying to his
nature.
At the close of his life of conflict, looking back over its struggles
and triumphs, he could say, “I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for
me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will give me on that Day.”
2 Timothy 4:7, 8
.
The Christian life is a battle and a march. From this warfare there
is no release. The effort must be continuous and persevering. It is by
unceasing endeavor that we maintain the victory over the temptations
of Satan. Christian integrity must be sought with resistless energy
and maintained with a resolute fixedness of purpose.
No one will be borne upward without stern, persevering effort in
his or her own behalf. All must engage in this warfare for themselves.
No one else can fight our battles. Individually we are responsible
for the issues of the struggle. Though Noah, Job, and Daniel were
in the land, they could deliver neither son nor daughter by their
righteousness. (See
Ezekiel 14:12-20
.)
The Science to Be Mastered
There is a science of Christianity to be mastered—a science
as much deeper, broader, higher than any human science as the