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Christ Inspires Souls with Confidence in God, January 7
Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory
that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:4
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What kind of faith is it that overcomes the world? It is that faith which
makes Christ your own personal Saviour—that faith which, recognizing your
helplessness, your utter inability to save yourself, takes hold of the Helper who
is mighty to save, as your only hope. It is faith that will not be discouraged, that
hears the voice of Christ saying, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,
and My divine strength is yours.” It is the faith that hears Him say, “Lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
The reason why the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die is that the
enemy has brought influences of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling
souls. He has sought to shut Jesus from their view as the Comforter, as one who
reproves, who warns, who admonishes them, saying, “This is the way, walk ye
in it.” Christ has all power in heaven and in earth, and He can strengthen the
wavering, and set right the erring. He can inspire with confidence, with hope in
God; and confidence in God always results in creating confidence in one another.
Every soul must have a realization that Christ is his personal Saviour; then
love and zeal and steadfastness will be manifest in the Christian life. However
clear and convincing the truth is, it will fail to sanctify the soul, fail to strengthen
and fortify it in its conflicts, unless it is brought in constant contact with life. Satan
has achieved his greatest success through interposing himself between the soul
and the Saviour.
Christ should never be out of the mind. The angels said concerning Him,
“Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Jesus,
precious Saviour! Assurance, helpfulness, security, and peace are all in Him. He
is the dispeller of all our doubts, the earnest of all our hopes. How precious is the
thought that we may indeed become partakers of the divine nature, whereby we
may overcome as Christ overcame! Jesus is the fullness of our expectation. He is
the melody of our songs, the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. He is living
water to the thirsty soul. He is our refuge in the storm. He is our righteousness, our
sanctification, our redemption. When Christ is our personal Saviour, we shall show
forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous
light....
Christ died because the law was transgressed, that guilty man might be saved
from the penalty of his enormous guilt. But history has proved that it is easier to
destroy the world than to reform it; for men crucified the Lord of Glory, who came
to unite earth with heaven, and man with God.—
The Review and Herald, August
26, 1890
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