THE TRIUMPH OF TRUST

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens – Hebrews 11:33-34

“These warriors of God were trained in the school of faith. They were ofttimes heavily handicapped and overwhelmingly outnumbered, yet always triumphant. They possessed a dynamic which levelled legions to the dust of defeat, and swept swarming armies of opponents into humiliating flight. Theirs was the path of the conqueror – they marched from “victory unto victory” – none could withstand their resistless faith. The experience of these Old Testament victors finds its counterpart in the lives of those New Testament warriors of whom Paul writes in his second Corinthian Epistle, “Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” Or as another translation of the same passage runs, “Wherever I go, thank God, He makes my life a constant pageant of triumph in Christ.”

They believed God, and so overcame. The secret of their strength was not in the subtlety of their strategy, nor in the prowess of their arms. “Not by might, nor by power” won they the victor’s laurels.

We also, as followers of Christ, are called to soldiership. We must also grip the sword of service, and gird ourselves for the fray. ‘Tis true we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but our enemies are none the less deadly, and the warfare none the less real. The weapons we wield are not carnal. We go clad in the Spirit’s might, and armed with the sword of truth. C. H. Spurgeon once said that “the man who lives in the region of faith dwells in the realm of miracles.” “Faith,” he adds, “trades in marvels, and her merchandise is with wonders.”

Faith will work the miracle
As we trust God’s oracle
The victory of Calvary
Comes not through earthly strategy.