Why are you, the covenant youth of the church different, definitely different from the world?

Why do you faithfully attend church on Sunday, while others enjoy sports and relaxation? Why do you attend catechism, young people’s meetings of the church? Why do you choose your friends and com­panions from your own church people?

Why? Is your background the reason? Is it because of your Christian parents, your covenant training in our schools? Your home life? Your environment? These things un­doubtedly make a deep impression on you, but is that the reason?

Or is it your will power? Are you naturally more adept to that kind of life? Or is it, as some would slander you, be­cause of your cowardice or fanaticism?

To all that the obvious answer is an em­phatic: NO!

The secret in your lives that makes you definitely different, with a difference that also became evident at this convention is YOUR FAITH. You confess from the heart and with your lips: I believe! That makes all the difference. That is in one word, the victory of faith!

As you were reminded during this con­vention, you have a battle, the worst battle against the most deceptive and powerful enemy that anyone can meet. But you are also equipped, thoroughly equipped as men and women of God with an armor which alone can withstand and overcome all the cunning deception and fiendish plots of the wicked. Yours is the victory, the victory of faith.

It is my privilege to call your attention to this Victory of Faith, considering for a few moments: A Glorious Reality: A Blessed Hope; A Powerful Incentive.

A Glorious Reality

The first point I wish to make is, that covenant youth has the victory already now in this present tune, even today.

Generally when we speak of the victory of the saints we are thinking of the ulti­mate victory in eternity. Scripture also speaks to us very often of our spiritual battle, even encouraging us to strive for that victory that is attained when all this weary night is spent. The Word of God reminds us that there is a crown of glory awaiting us, so that when the battle is fought, the faith is kept, our Lord stands waiting to exchange our helmet of salvation for a crown of glory that we keep forever.

But the fact remains, that right now, while the enemy still rages round about us, and the hue and cry of battle is heard wherever we turn, we nevertheless are vic­tors. Not as if we have a partial victory now, but we are completely victorious over all our foes. In that confidence we fight from day to day!

Let me show you in a moment that this is the plain teaching of the Scriptures. Al­ready in the Old Testament, Psalm 98, verse 1 declares: ‘‘O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvelous things; His right hand hath (not, will, but, hath) gotten Him the victory.” In I Corinthians 15, verse 57 Paul even includes us in that victory when he states: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And the apostle John writes (I John 5:4): “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world [in the present]: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth in the Son of God?” And, to mention just one more passage of Scrip­ture, Paul concludes his glorious triumph song of Romans 8 with the confident chal­lenge: “Nay, but in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Victors, yes: even more, con­querors. Still more: More than conquerors are we!

Now what may sound like a vain boast to your enemies and no less to yourselves. In the previous speeches that were given you were reminded of the powerful enemy that you face and the bitter battle that you wage. Your battle is not against mere flesh

and blood, but against the very devil and his host that attack you like clouds of monstrous locusts out of hell. What a hor­rible picture, yet how real! This chief devil even has the entire world, which he calls his kingdom, at his beck and call. The world lures and attracts, but can also sud­denly turn about and make your life im­possible on the earth. The third enemy is the apostate church which has such great power because it speaks the language of Scripture, and yet corrupts it with new translations and subtle lies. Last, but not least, you and I have our own flesh against us. Our worst enemy lurks right within our sinful nature. All the other enemies could never threaten us, if it were not for that cowardly, susceptible, carnal nature.

The battle carries on relentlessly, day and night. You meet the enemy while you are sitting here, on Sunday when you are in church, even in moments of prayer. What sinful thoughts, what evil desires can ravage our souls! And then we have said nothing about the sinful words and acts and deeds that crowd upon us to condemn us!

And our weapon? The world sneers at the mention of it. What can that Bible, that Word of God do to ward off the arrows of Satan? What good does it do to wave a sword of the Scriptures? So persistent is the slander against the Bible, that even we are sometimes led to wonder whether hu­man philosophies, man’s word, is not more powerful than that.

Yet, in spite of all these objections, Scrip­ture maintains and we maintain that we are victors, not will be, but are victors even now.

This is true, in the first place, because the battle is the Lord’s. The history of the world is not a contest between God and the devil as two equal powers, so that the out­come is still doubtful. God is God, the devil is a creature of God. God is eternal, the devil is bound to time and place, even obtaining his power from God. In the coun­sel of God Jesus Christ stands eternally as the great Champion of the cause of the living God. He is appointed to overcome and destroy all the powers of darkness to establish the throne of God eternally in the heavens. The kingdoms of this world must become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ forever.

This victory is attained through the death of our Lord on the cross. The great Champion of God, Who is God Himself, came into the likeness of sinful flesh to meet in person our arch-enemy, the devil. He went into the very citadel of Satan, into the depths of hell to storm that citadel, to crush the head of the serpent and to take captivity captive. Triumphantly He cried out on the cross, “It is finished,” and from then on made His victory march through death and the grave to be exalted as Lord over all in the highest heavens. Right now, Christ has dominion over land and sea, so that earth’s remotest regions are already His empire, over which He rules unto the gath­ering of His church and the final coming of His kingdom in the heavens.

Christ is Lord over all, but in a very special sense Lord in our lives. The Spirit of Jesus Christ has taken over in our hearts. Sin’s dominion is broken, so that grace abounds. We are assured of the forgiveness of sins, the right to eternal life as heirs of salvation. We are new creatures in Christ, so that the power of Christ rules in our hearts. Slaves of sin have become devoted children of the living God.

This leaves the question: How do I know? How can I be sure that this is true in my life? There are many voices raised today of “Lord, Lord,” boasting of the mighty works that they do for Jesus, only to be told in that great day of days in no uncertain terms, “I never knew you.” How do I know that this is not true of me? How can I be sure my faith is not mere fanaticism? The answer is: Faith itself is assurance. That is not our work, but the work of the Holy Spirit in us. He assures us that we are sons of God, heirs of salvation. Faith is the vic­tory that overcomes the world even now.

A Blessed Hope

But our faith means much more to us than that. Faith reaches out even unto the glorious blessedness of eternity. Faith is an eternal victory!

Let me remind you a moment that this is far more than any of the vain idols of this world even dare to offer.

The world today worships many gods, just as vain as the gods of wood and stone which the pagans worship. Some bow be­fore the god of science. Science has done

great things, especially in recent years. Think of all the progress that has been made in the fields of electronics, in machin­ery, in medicine, in surgery, in agriculture. Yes, you name it — progress everywhere, so that man seems to think that he can do anything that he sets his mind to do. Even many that still call themselves Christians bow before the throne of science. Science knows! Science rules. We believe science before we believe the Bible. We put our trust in science rather than in God. God has failed, science will show the solution to all our problems. That is the philosophy of many in our day. But science has not overcome death!

Then there is the god of Mammon. Money talks, shouts aloud. The multi-millionaire is the man who is esteemed. He has power to do things. The whole world clamors to en­joy his luxuries with him. Yet his money cannot rescue him from the grave nor from hell!

Sports is another god. When kept in its place sports have their value in our lives. But so readily they become the all-impor­tant thing that adds zest and vim to our drab existence. Soon outstanding players become the heroes of the day, whose names are on every lip. People will slavishly bind themselves to the TV set in adoration of these great heroes. Worshipfully they watch them, talk about them, admire them. But these also are idols of clay, as are all that worship them.

But our God is in the heavens. His throne is from everlasting to everlasting. His is the kingdom, the power, the glory forever and ever.

How do I know? The Bible tells me so. God has promised eternal life to all those who serve Him. Even the Psalmist of old declared: “When I in righteousness at last, Thy glorious face shall see. When all the weary night is past and I awake in thee … to view the glories that abide. Then, then I shall be satisfied.”

The apostle Paul could say at the end of His burdensome life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give me at that day: and not only me, but unto all those also that love His ap­pearing.” Therefore Jesus encourages us from heaven: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

The emphasis is repeatedly on the crown. That crown is the victor’s crown, the laurel that the soldier received when he returned safely and victoriously from battle. With­out a battle there is no crown. You can be sure of that.

Your battle as covenant youth today is far more intense than any before. The devil is exerting his last efforts to destroy you. Temptations multiply, such as we never knew in our day. Liquor, drugs, and the like were foreign to us when we were your age. At least, they were not readily available. The world creeps in much closer. The apostacy in the church is worse, even more open than ever. And you need not expect that it will get better in the future, for example, after you are married and settled down. Jesus forewarns us: “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” yet he also adds: “But be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.”

Paul assures us, even speaking for us: “Nay, but in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

We are victorious. No, we are con­querors.

An army can be victorious and still not have conquered the enemy completely. Or an army may have subdued the foe, yet at such a loss of property, life and limb that the victory carries with it a lot of grief. Think of a torn and ruined battlefield after bombing raids. Think of the many injured, who may carry their crippling wounds through life. Think of the number of casualties, broken families, mourning par­ents, wives and children. Sometimes a victory can be of such a nature that an­other of its kind would spell complete de­feat.

That is never the case with us. Scrip­ture assures us that we are more than con­querors. The losses are only with the enemy. Ours is purest gain. Even the ear we might have thought to have lost is replaced without a scar. In fact, ALL THINGS work together for good for those who love God, the called according to His purpose. Christ Who died for us and at­tained the victory through that great love whereby He loved us, loves us still. He is for us, nothing can be against us. No height, no depth, no devil, no demon of hell, no world of sin, no temptation, no sickness, no pain ,no death — With a mighty “NO” we brush them all aside. In all these things we are conquerors, even far more than conquerors, because the helmet of sal­vation is exchanged at death for a crown of glory! Life we attain through death!

A Powerful Incentive

But does that not make us careless and profane? If we boast in the confidence that we triumph even now, won’t we turn more readily to sin and its temptations?

Scripture answers that question too, by saying: “God forbid!” In fact, that is the answer of every sincere child of God: “God forbid.” How can the Spirit of Christ with­in me make me careless and indifferent? How can I who have the love of God in my heart turn against my God? How can I, a soldier of Jesus Christ, be a coward, a traitor, unfaithful to my God?

That does not mean that temptations never befall us. Nor does it mean that we are always equally strong and never fall into sin. But sin brings sorrow and re­pentance, and repentance brings us back to the ranks as faithful soldiers of the cross.

Therefore we also realize in our own hearts the seriousness of our calling. Let me mention, in conclusion, what is included in our calling in this battle of faith.

First, we must be in constant training. We may be thankful to our God that He began his training already as soon as we were born by entrusting us to Christian parents, and by giving us a place in His church, as well as providing for us our Christian schools. But a soldier must al­ways be in training, just as an athlete prepares himself for each contest. Hours of training are required that we may be fit soldiers, ready at all times to fight the battle that is always waging round about us and in us.

Second, we must be equipped. That is an essential part of our training. We must have the best armor, the best weapons, both for defensive and offensive warfare. God provides these for us, but only in the way of searching Scriptures, prayer­fully applying ourselves to His fear. Our societies are most essential to show us the use of our helmet of salvation, the proper adjustment of the breastplate of righteous­ness, the tying of the girdle of truth to keep that breastplate in place, the proper footwear of the shoes of preparedness, the maneuvering of the shield of faith, the powerful thrust of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Third, we must always be alert, watching. Careless indifference is disastrous. The watchmen upon the walls of Zion must watch day and night in order that no sur­prise attack takes them unawares. Still more, never compromise with the enemy. Never play with temptation. Never yield an inch. There is an old saying: “Never aim a gun at anything unless you intend to shoot.” Never play with fire.

Finally, our Lord from heaven Himself instructs you: “Be faithful.” Faithful to Him Who is always faithful to you. Faith­ful in the face of all opposition, even until you die, yes, even if it means your life. Be ready in the cause of Christ, not only to suffer, but even to die for the truth.

The promise rings true: “I will give you a crown of life.” Life through death from our faithful Savior Jesus Christ. More than conquerors are we! To God be the glory!