For the next few weeks I am going to share some of the thoughts that I got from the hymn, “Faith is the Victory”. It was written by John H. Yates in 1891 and is based on 1 John 5:4—“for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
This song reminds us that we are in a battle. The battle has been raging between the forces of God and the forces of Satan. Adam and Eve were the first of us to be engaged in that war and they were defeated in that first battle. The story of the fall in the Garden of Eden shows us that the battle is not always a frontal attack. Sometimes the attacks are quite subtle. However, we are assured that God will be the ultimate victor in this war. It is by our faith in God’s ultimate victory and our faith in the victory Christ won for us on the cross that we can be victorious in our battles so that we may say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Here is the first verse of “Faith is the Victory”:
Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers, rise,
This phrase reminds us that this world is not our home. We are in an army camp as soldiers enlisted to help God in His battle to bring the people of the world into His salvation and eternal reward with Him.
And press the battle ere the night Shall veil the glowing skies.
This phrase reminds us that the time to fight is limited. There will be a time when God calls an end to this world and calls Christ and His forces to defeat Satan once and for all. We should be reminded as well that for some the battle will end sooner rather than later and we must be intentional about our witness to those around us.
Against the foe in vales below Let all our strength be hurled;
This phrase reminds us that we must be courageous in our fight for Christ and give all we have to serve Him, and not in a haphazard way.
Faith is the victory, we know, That overcomes the world.
Refrain: Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Oh, glorious victory, That overcomes the world.
The last phrase and the refrain/chorus remind us that it is by faith in the power and love of God that we will be part of the “glorious victory that overcomes the world.” So, in the words of another familiar song, I challenge you “Onward Christian soldiers! Marching as to war.” Let us see how many victories we can win this we