There is no good reason for any one’s becoming discouraged. There is no sin, no matter how deeply seated in the physical man, or how long it has been indulged, but what if fully surrendered to Him who has all power in heaven and earth, it can be fully conquered.
By keeping our eyes fixed upon Jesus by faith, we can resist every temptation. From all temptations that are too strong for us to bear, He has promised to make a way of escape. It is the mind of God that we live without sin; for if in His strength we can conquer every temptation that He allows to come upon us, and He makes a way of escape for temptations too strong to bear, there can be no reason why we should not become sinless, and live a pure life. It is sin that discourages us, and only sin.
That it is God’s mind that we live without sin, is evident from 1 John 2:1, first part: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.” Why would God write to us, through His servant, “that ye sin not,” if there was no way to be kept from sinning? It would certainly be useless thus to admonish if there was no possible way for the admonition to take effect.
But strive as we may, and be as determined as we know how, we are told in Steps to Christ, 64, that “we shall often have to bow and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes; but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God.” No; for the Lord did not leave the text unfinished, but added, “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous” (1 John 2:1, last part). Praise His name for this!
Many are perplexed over this text. They seem to think it impossible to live without sin, and positively declare that it cannot be done. They grasp the latter part of the text, “And if any man sin, we have an advocate,” etc., and then without any dependence of Christ, try in their own strength not to repeat the sin. The temptation can be met successfully only by keeping our eyes upon Jesus, and by exercising faith in His keeping power (1 Peter 1:5).
But our danger lies in losing sight of Christ, and our faith failing. If we do, we will certainly sin.
Let us illustrate: A man is thrown overboard at sea. A line is thrown within his reach, and he grasps it tightly. As long as he clings to it, he is drawn toward the ship. But as he nears the vessel, he begins to think himself quite secure, which causes him somewhat to loosen his grasp; and before he is aware of it, he has lost his hold entirely. He is again at the mercy of the wind and the waves. He awakens anew to his perilous condition, and again calls loudly for help. The deliverer again throws the life-line, which is grasped more tightly than ever. Had he been more careful not to lose his hold the first time, it would have been much better. A mountainous wave might have swept him away, just as he was reaching out to lay hold of the line.
It is just so with the sinner. He is shipwrecked on the sea of death; but God in His mercy has thrown the life-line of His promise (1 John 1:9), and many a shipwrecked mariner has grasped it, but again he has grown careless and lost his hold. Some have awakened again to grasp the life-line (1 John 2:1, last part), to lay hold of it more securely, pray more fervently, believe more fully, and watch more diligently; while others have been swept away by some great temptation, and have given up in despair.
By continually keeping our eyes fixed upon Christ, we can live without sin. By looking away from Him, we will sin. We can look to Him continually. We may become careless and lose sight of Him. But if we make calculations that we cannot live out the admonition, “that ye sin not,” we have already looked away from Christ, made provisions to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, and will sink in despair.
May our faith take hold of His keeping power, and we be preserved from the terrible temptations that are awaiting us on every side.
Ellen G. White Present Truth and Review and Herald Articles, March 7, 1893.