Hymn Devotionals (1)
“Victory
In Jesus”
An Old, Old
Story
This
hymn begins with the declaration, “I heard an old, old story!” Over the
centuries, there have been many stories told, and some have been excellent.
However, there has never been a story told that can compare to the story of
this hymn. This is true because the old, old story comes from the love of God
(John 3:16).
The
human race became eternally lost because of sin, but God sent a Savior from
glory. Did this Savior come from glory because we deserved salvation? No,
because Paul wrote: “But God demonstrates His own
love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This action from God was
not an easy one, because it brought suffering and pain to both the Father and
the Son. How painful it must have been for the Father to here the cry of His
Son, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34).
Then
who could ever deny the pain and suffering of Jesus! Even though the Bible does
a masterful job in describing those many hours of agony, our human minds cannot
fully imagine the experiences of Jesus. Just as Jesus had anticipated in the
Garden of Gethsemane, it was a bitter cup of suffering to drink. He prayed, “O
My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I
will, but as You will”
(Matthew 26:39).
Therefore,
this old, old story is a story of love, sacrifice, and salvation. There will
never be a story that can equal or surpass this one!
Obeyed His Blest Commands
Unfortunately
there are millions who hear and admire this old, old story, but never apply it
to their lost souls. Even though Jesus shed His blood for all, only a few will
obey Him to get on the narrow way that leads to life. This is what Jesus
taught: “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to
life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). What will happen to the vast majority? Jesus
explains, “for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to
destruction, and there are many who go in by it” (Matthew 7:13).
Since
salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:10), there are those who mock at the
essentiality of obeying God’s commands. However, the old, old story involves
obedience on both the part of Jesus the Savior, and those who are saved: “though
He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And
having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who
obey Him,” (Hebrews
5:8,9).
Why
is it obeying His blest commands so important for salvation? Because obedience
is God’s way for the sinner to reach the saving blood of Jesus. In the words of another hymn, the
question is asked, “What can wash away my sins?” The answer, “Nothing but the
blood of Jesus.” How is this blood reached? By obeying from the heart the
commands that God specified. Hear and believe the word of God (Romans 10:17).
Repent of all sins (Acts 3:19), and confess that Jesus is the Son of God
(Romans 10:9,10), and then be baptized for salvation by receiving the forgiveness
of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).
Can
one ignore these blest commands and still be saved? Read what the apostle John
wrote before you answer: “Whoever transgresses and
does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the
doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9).
The
hymn has a happy and joyful conclusion to those who seek salvation according to
God’s will. There is victory in Jesus. Before conversion, Paul concluded that
he was a wretched man, because he could not overcome by himself (Romans 7:24).
How did he get himself out of this situation? His answer: “I thank
God—through Jesus Christ our Lord. . .” (Romans 7:25). Thus, with Jesus, he was able to say, “There
is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not
walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
Please remember that victory over sin
cannot be found in any other place, other than in Jesus. Why is victory found only in Jesus?
Because God has placed ALL spiritual blessings in Him (Ephesians 1:3). It all
comes down to this simple conclusion: Either a sinner is IN Jesus saved, or a
sinner is OUTSIDE Jesus lost. It is true that millions seek victory in other
places, but they are deceived eternally!
Remember, only Jesus sought and bought us with His redeeming blood. Therefore, we need to ask ourselves, “Have we responded to that old, old story by obeying His blest commands, and received that eternal victory in Jesus?”