FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

HH Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 4:6-7).

As soldiers show their scars and talk of battles when they come at last to spend their old age in the country at home, so shall we in the dear land to which we are hastening, speak of the goodness and faithfulness of God who brought us through all the trials of the way. I would not like to stand in the white-robed host and hear it said, “These are they that came out of great tribulation, all except one.”

Would you like to be there and see yourself pointed at as the one saint who never knew a sorrow? Oh, no! for you would be an alien in the midst of the sacred brotherhood. We will be content to share the battle, for we shall soon wear the crown and wave the palm.

“Where were you wounded?” asked the surgeon of a soldier at Lookout Mountain. “Almost at the top,” he answered. He forgot even his gaping wound–he only remembered that he had won the heights. So let us go forth to higher endeavours for Christ and never rest till we can shout from the very top, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Brethren I can go on and on all the day and talk about the sorrows and how He was wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my iniquity and believe that is all about the journey. I recalled my spiritual Mother directing me on my first “Throne of Grace”. She was very stern with me in her words reminding me that the journey is a rough one and the road is strait and narrow. What I remembered is the road was very rugged and lonely. There were many trials and trouble, but my eyes were set on yonder shining light.

Hallelujah, I can shout from the valley and from the mountaintop that Jesus is Lord. But there are more to just shouting. My God, I have been battered and bruised, persecuted and yet I did not give in to the enemies that surrounded me night and day. Many were my afflictions from the people claiming to be washed in His blood and known to me as my brothers and sisters.  I am so bruised that they will get their accomplices to attend to my wounds with salt for a cure. I cried night and day and often wondered when it will end, but His Grace was sufficient to sustain me to this day and beyond.

You see brethren that a man’s foes are from his own household. So be comforted and rejoice and be glad and let it be for His sake. Let your light keep shining in the darkest corner so the world can glorify God through you. I am proud of my self and the battle I am fighting. I an torn, bruised and wounded in my spirit. I bear the marks of suffering and I am proud because I am awaiting my lily white shining robe to hear the words. “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14

The oceans give up all the dead that are in them
The graves open wide to set the captives free
And those who are roaming, the earth rise to meet them
Abraham’s seed as the sands of the sea

These are they who have come out of great tribulation
They have washed their robes in the blood of the lamb
They have come through much sorrow into great jubilation
They’re redeemed by the blood of the lamb

Like a strong mighty army their voices are ringing
The great crowd of witnesses sing freedom’s song
As they enter the country built by their own father
The promised homeland they’ve looked for so long

And all the strangers and pilgrims, they’re no longer strangers
All the tired weary wanderers, they wander no more
The table is spread for the great celebration
And the welcome home banner flies over the door

These are they who have come out of great tribulation
They have washed their robes in the blood of the lamb
They have come through much sorrow into great jubilation
They’re redeemed by the blood of the lamb
They’re redeemed by the blood of the lamb