The Two Shall Be One
The apostle Peter exhorts us: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10).
To make our calling and election sure means to develop a character like that of Jesus Christ.
“Mental ability and genius are not character, for these are often possessed by those who have the very opposite of a good character. Reputation is not character. True character is a quality of the soul, revealing itself in the conduct.”1
“The mental and moral powers which God has given us do not constitute character. They are talents which we are to improve and which, if properly improved, will form a right character.”2
“The harvest of life is character, and it is this that determines destiny, both for this life and for the life to come. The harvest is a reproduction of the seed sown. Every seed yields fruit after its kind.”3
“He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:8).
Character is the result of my sowing. Seeds are manifested in the thoughts I choose, the words I speak, and the actions I do. We need to sow seeds with eternal benefits, not only earthly ones.
“A good character is more precious than worldly possessions, and the work of forming it is the noblest in which men can engage.”4
“A good character is a capital of more value than gold or silver. It is unaffected by panics or failures, and in that day when earthly possessions shall be swept away, it will bring rich returns.”5
Think of Job in his life and the type of character he demonstrated under extreme suffering. Think of Solomon at the end of his life. In the face of trial, Job’s character strengthened. Despite Solomon’s failures, he finally achieved the victory needed in his character.
“A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next. Those who are under the instruction of Christ in this world will take every divine attainment with them to the heavenly mansions. And in heaven we are continually to improve. How important, then, is the development of character in this life.”6
“Character does not come by chance. It is not determined by one outburst of temper, one step in the wrong direction. It is the repetition of the act that causes it to become habit, and molds the character either for good or for evil.”7
“Characters formed by circumstance are changeable and discordant—a mass of contraries. Their possessors have no high aim or purpose in life. They have no ennobling influence upon the characters of others. They are purposeless and powerless.”8
“The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a figure of the development of character. There can be no life without growth. The plant must either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible, but continuous, so is the growth of character. At every stage of development our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be constant advancement.”9
My family bought a young peach tree and planted it—and we were amazed to see how fast it grew. The next spring, it bloomed. Then as the blossoms fell off, the ovules remained to form little peaches. These baby fruits started out tiny and green—but if left on the tree long enough, they developed into sweet, delicious peaches. Each stage of development was important and each stage was perfect in the process. But the tree had to be nurtured and cared for in order for success to occur. The same is true with our character development as we seek to bear the fruit of the Spirit (mentioned in Galatians 5:22, 23.)
We are bidden, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12, 13).
“Strength of character consists of two things—power of will and power of self-control.”10
A character is only strong if it has these two things.
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36). It is interesting to notice that the New Living Translation of this verse says: “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10).
Diligence is a constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.
“Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs cannot be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble, intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline, and stern conflict, that we shall overcome.”11
“The excellence of character that you possess must be the result of your own effort. Friends may encourage you, but they cannot do the work for you. Wishing, sighing, dreaming, will never make you great or good. You must climb. Gird up the loins of your mind, and go to work with all the strong powers of your will.”12
“In order to purify and refine our characters, we need the grace given us of Christ that will enable us to see and correct our deficiencies and improve that which is excellent in our characters.”13
“If we would develop a character which God can accept, we must form correct habits in our religious life. Daily prayer is as essential to growth in grace, and even to spiritual life itself, as is temporal food to physical well-being. We should accustom ourselves to lift the thoughts often to God in prayer. If the mind wanders, we must bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will finally make it easy. We cannot for one moment separate ourselves from Christ with safety. We may have His presence to attend us at every step, but only by observing the conditions which He Himself has laid down.”14
We are bidden: “ Take heed unto thyself , and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16).
The way in which God works with us is by showing our defects and our need of Him through His Word.
“The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character. . . . If studied and obeyed, the Word of God works in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute.”15
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25).
“If the youth today would stand as Daniel stood, they must put to the stretch every spiritual nerve and muscle. The Lord does not desire that they shall remain novices. He wishes them to reach the highest round of the ladder, that they may step from it into the kingdom of God.”16
“It is the wise improvement of your opportunities, the cultivation of your God-given talents, that will make you men and women that can be approved of God, and a blessing to society. Let your standard be high, and with indomitable energy, make the most of your talents and opportunities, and press to the mark.”17
“Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity”(2 Peter 1:5–7).
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10).
“The conversation we have by the fireside, the books we read, the business we transact, are all agents in forming our characters, and day by day decide our eternal destiny.”18
“The importance of the little things is often underrated because they are small; but they supply much of the actual discipline of life. There are really no nonessentials in the Christian’s life. Our character building will be full of peril while we underrate the importance of the little things.”19
“We must meet all obstacles placed in our way and overcome them one at a time. If we overcome the first difficulty, we shall be stronger to meet the next, and at every effort will become better able to make advancement. By looking to Jesus we may be overcomers. It is by fastening our eyes on the difficulties and shrinking from earnest battle for the right that we become weak and faithless.”20
There have been times when I have been assigned to develop a very complicated software project. The task seemed insurmountable, impossible and overwhelming! Yet by dividing the project into small portions—and accomplishing each part one at a time, step-by-step, the task could indeed be accomplished.
“There is no such thing as instantaneous sanctification. True sanctification is a daily work, continuing as long as life shall last.”21
“We are to live only one day at a time. We do not have to do the work of a lifetime in a few hours. We need not look into the future with anxiety; for God has made it possible for us to be overcomers every day.”22
“But Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-around character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.”23
What are some ways by which the archenemy attempts to weaken our character?
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The New International Version (NIV) says: “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.”
As an example: “Abstract meditation is not enough; busy action is not enough—both are essential to the formation of Christian character.”24
“Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. . . . The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God.”25
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).
“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
The temptation of a lot of people today is movies. The real issue is neglecting prayer and devotional time.
“Peter’s fall was not instantaneous, but gradual. Self-confidence led him to the belief that he was saved, and step after step was taken in the downward path, until he could deny his Master. Never can we safely put confidence in self or feel, this side of heaven, that we are secure against temptation.”26
“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38).
We are never to rest in a satisfied condition, and cease to make advancement, saying, ‘I am saved.’ When this idea is entertained, the motives for watchfulness, for prayer, for earnest endeavor to press onward to higher attainments, cease to exist. No sanctified tongue will be found uttering these words till Christ shall come, and we enter in through the gates into the city of God. Then, with the utmost propriety, we may give glory to God and to the Lamb for eternal deliverance.”27
We need to be watchful that we don’t presumptuously live our life based on past everyday habits, as if operating in “autopilot” mode. Instead, we should be serious about putting on the “gas pedal” to move forward, climbing on the upward way with the help of God.
“Let us be growing Christians. We are not to stand still. We are to be in advance today of what we were yesterday; every day learning to be more trustful, more fully relying upon Jesus. Thus we are to grow up.”28
• Character is the harvest of life.
• It is the most valuable thing on Earth.
• It doesn’t come by chance.
• It’s not based on circumstances.
• Will power is essential
• Diligence is more than essential.
• God’s Word is our guide.
• We must aim high!
• The small things are really not small.
• One step at a time.
“By the exercise of living faith today, we are to conquer the enemy. We must today seek God, and be determined that we will not rest satisfied without His presence. We should watch and work and pray as though this were the last day that would be granted us. If you are right with God today, you are ready if Christ should come today.”29
May each of us so improve every day given us of God that at last we may hear the Master say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant’ (Matthew 25:21).”Amen!