Good character

https://odb.org/2024/02/22/walk-in-my-shoes

We all know Christian life is a journey to eternity that passes through this life on earth. Our passage through this life is temporal since eternity is our destiny. But like animals on the African plains, we need to eat to continue living although air is for all to breathe. As human beings living in an evolved civilisation, most of us need to work to put food on our tables. Few are born with a silver spoon.

As much as our passage through this earth in its present form is temporary, it is not to be taken lightly. Besides needing to face the realities of life and its challenges, we need to be cognizant that our relationship with God also requires us to be of good character as a person, and we are judged by His standards and not our own arbitrary ones. That means what constitutes good character is not up to us but as per the Scriptures. Paul taught that to the Colossians in his letter to them at chapter 3 verse 12 to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Elsewhere in Galatians 5:22-23, Paul expands these virtues and calls them the Fruit of the Spirit. Basically, there are certain virtues we need to nevertheless develop in this life as much as we are pilgrims passing through. Not subject to negotiation despite us needing to face the realities and challenges in life. We can not rationalise that sometimes we need to be evil to live, that it is the survival of the fittest out there. No, that is clearly wrong. It is non-negotiable that we need to be of good character to be a disciple of Christ and a servant of God. Treat this as the Holy Spirit preparing us for our eternal life in the new heaven and new earth.

10 years from now, after having Christ in our lives for another 10 years, we should be more compassionate, kinder, more humble, more gentle, and more patient. Yes, a leopard doesn’t lose its spots, but in our case, we have the Holy Spirit working in our lives. What is impossible for man is possible with God. Miraculous healing, signs and wonders, and the gifts of the Spirit are all well and good. But most crucially is our character. Those things are all tools or a means to an end. Who we have become today in Christ is the end. Those things should make us become of good character, not make us rich, famous and powerful. Like a healthier and well toned body after hours of gym work, years of relating with Christ must make us a better person of good character.