Your Home and Health - Ellen G. White

attainment of the victors crown.
The strongest evidence of man's fall 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 work begun; but its accomplish-ment will require toil, time,
perseverance, patience, and sac-rifice.
We cannot allow ourselves to act from impulse. We can-not be off guard
for a moment. Beset with temptations with-out number, we must resist firmly
or be conquered. Should we 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. Instead of following inclination, he did God's
will, however crucifying to his nature.
At die close of his life of conflict, looking back over its struggles and
triumphs, he could say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith: hence-forth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that
day," 2 Timothy 4:7, 8.
The Christian life is a battle and a march. In this war-fare there is no
release; the effort must be continuous and per-severing. 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.
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