Ultimate Victory

February 17

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Abraham Lincoln

A companion to the statement by President Lincoln is that of Lord Acton, “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” A friend who has been a teacher and companion and counselor to kings and princes says that it is his observation that when small men received power they are corrupted terribly by it.

And it is our observation in day-to-day life among our day-to-day acquaintances that as people increase in position and wealth they become a mere shadow of who they could have been, of who the Lord wanted them to be. It seems as they attain power over others, they lose power over themselves. (See Proverbs 16:32.)

Where they had once seemed honorable and righteous, they become controlling and dogmatic. Where they had once been possessed of a noble character they become ignoble. Where once they were sterling in virtue, they have become a baser version of themselves with a mere veneer of sterling to cover the corruption of their souls.

They flaunt their superiority and weld their control over those in their sphere of influence without grace or kindness; they are little tyrants. Their infantile self-centeredness is unable to concern itself with the well-being of others, much as a baby has little regard for any needs but his own. This mindset manifests itself in the spiritual realm as well, for such an individual is the center of his religion and the author of his salvation.

Although he may profess faith in the Savior, he has staked his claim to salvation on his own understanding of and meticulous compliance with the law as he perceives it rather than on the law of love that Jesus embodies and commands in John 13:34-35 where He said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, also love one another. By this shall all know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The self-righteous and legalistic man can mouth the words of the faith but he does not live them.

The conclusion we can draw from what we see is that adversity is our friend because it keeps us before the throne of mercy and grace. It keeps us at the feet of Jesus where we can be refreshed daily in the warmth of the assurance of His love and forgiveness. Where we can lay claim to the beauty He gives us for ashes, for the oil of joy He gives us for mourning, for the garment of praise He places upon us in exchange for the spirit of heaviness. (See Isaiah 61:3.)

It is in His presence that we discover that “the joy of the Lord” truly is “our strength,” Nehemiah 8:10, whereas our own power will reveal our weakness. In our weakness and lack, we discover Christ to be our strength and our sufficiency. Instead of increasing in the pompous arrogance of our own power, let us become fully reliant on the power of Jesus which is at work in us and through us. It is the power which we can be sure will ultimately gain us a total victory over our enemies, over our adverse circumstances and over ourselves.