VICTORY IN DEFEAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1077, 15 September 1930, Page 5

VICTORY IN DEFEAT

“GREATNESS MEANS BEING NOT GETTING” FAILURES WHO SUCCEED How a , man who has apparently failed in life’s material things may yet experience the satisfaction of victory was the theme of the Rev. W. W. Avery’s sermon in St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Northcote, yesterday morning. Greatness meant being, not getting, said the minister, in. basing his remarks on the story of Moses. “Moses was one of the world’s greatest men,” said Mr. Avery. ‘Brought up as the son of Pliaraoh’s daughter, he was surrounded by all the luxury and splendour of Egypt. When he became a man lie refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Conceiving the idea of liberating his people from Egyptian bondage, he spends 40 years in preparation for the time when Pharaoh will let them de- i part. Another 40 years is spent as their leader through the wilderness on their way to the Land of Caanan. For 80 years Moses had looked forward to the time when he would lead the children of Israel into the promised land. He saw Caanan, but died, his life’s dream unrealised, his life’s hopes unfulfilled, the promised land unreached. “Many a life is started with high hopes and great ideals and noble ambitions,” continued the speaker. ‘“Long years are spent in hard toil and service and sacrifice. And then the call conies before the goal is reached. BUILDS MANHOOD “But defeat finds a place in the building up of manhood and womanhood. Life’s failures may be life's greatest victories. It is failure that spurs us on to renewed effort. We may miss the goal. To play the game is the great thing. True greatness consists not in getting, but in being. A man may be a millionaire- He is only worth what he is. To become a man was greater than to be a prince. And Aloses did that. “Is there no victory in defeat? Life’s lost causes are often life’s crown. Our struggles bring out courage, patience, meekness, perseverance, self-sacrifice, and these are worth while. The goal may never be reached this side of death: but a larger, fuller, richer life awaits us in the Great Beyond. “Our way is .not always God’s way. To grow in grace is more important than to reach the goal. Growth in thought, in character, in soul—these are the great things. Better that the ideal be too high than a low ideal easily reached. There Is no growth of soul without striving. Christ is always tempting us to do the impossible. “If we have done our best we need not be ashamed of our failure. He who is never defeated never wins much. To fail, and to be ashamed to recall the failure—that is defeat. “From the purely human viewpoint Christ’s death upon the Cross was a great defeat." said Air. Avery in concluding. “They all forsook Him and fled. His disciples all hope. All was dark despair- We all know today that the Cross of Christ has been the world’s greatest triumph, and that the Christian Church has been the world’s greatest power for righteousness. We Will never reach the peri fection of Christ, but we can try to i follow in His steps.”