May 11
WAIT FOR THE FINALS
"Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the
last." Gen. 49:19
Some of us have been like the tribe of Gad. Our adversaries for a
while were too many for us, they came upon us like a troop. Yes, and
for the moment they overcame us; and they exulted greatly because of
their temporary victory. Thus they only proved the first part of the
family heritage to be really ours, for Christ's people, like Dan,
shall have a troop overcoming them. This being overcome is very
painful, and we should have despaired if we had not by faith believed
the second line of our father's benediction, "He shall overcome at the
last." "All's well that ends well," said the world's poet; and he
spoke the truth. A war is to be judged, not by first successes or
defeats, but by that which happens "at the last." The Lord will give
to truth and righteousness victory "at the last"; and, as Mr. Bunyan
says, that means for ever, for nothing can come after the last.
What we need is patient perseverance in well-doing, calm confidence
in our glorious Captain. Christ, our Lord Jesus, would teach us His
holy art of setting the face like a flint to go through with work or
suffering till we can say, "It is finished." Hallelujah. Victory!
Victory! We believe the promise. "He shall overcome at the last."