October 30

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. - Revelation 12:11

SOME are now engaged in “fighting the good fight of faith.” The conflict is severe and protracted: “Without are fightings, and within are fears;” and they are saying: “Lord how are they increased that trouble me; many are they that rise up against me; many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.” But though we have to wrestle against

“A numerous host of mighty foes,

Though earth and hell our way oppose,

He safely leads our souls along:

His loving-kindness, O how strong!”

The conflict is ours, and ours shall be the victory. A victory the most sure-as sure as the truth and promise and the oath of God, and the sacrifice of Immanuel can make it. A victory the most glorious: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne;” “I will give him the morning star;” “he that overcometh shall inherit all things.” A victory not very remote. If life be short, our conflicts cannot be long. A few more rising and descending suns, and our sun “shall no more go down by day, nor our moon withdraw her shining; for God shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.” A few more “fightings,” and the “enemies we have seen to-day we shall see no more for ever,” our warfare will have been “accomplished.” But there are others who were once engaged in this warfare, but are not now. What shall we say of them? those yonder. Who are these arrayed in white robes, “having palms in their hands, and whence came they?” “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” Blessed spirits!

“Once they were mourning here below,

And wet their couch with tears,

They wrestled hard as we do now

With sins, and doubts, and fears.

I ask them whence their victory came,

They with united breath

Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,

Their victory to his death.”

They seem to be looking down from the heavenly battlements, cheering us on, saying, “Once we were in the same condition with you, and soon you will be in the same glories with us.” Wherefore, let us “gird up the loins of our mind, and hope unto the end for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

“Then let my soul march boldly on,

Press forward to the heavenly gate,

There peace and joy eternal reign,

And glittering robes for conquerors wait.”