THIS site is written with the thought towards Spiritual Growth in Christian Character. It is an outgrowth of weekly emails titled Morning Greetings that were distributed to a small group beginning in March of 2009. At that time the focus was to share thoughts and considerations, to encourage and instruct with the aim to bringing every thought captive to Christ (2Cor. 10:5), to the end that in each and every one might be found advance and fulfillment the primary objective defined in Romans 8:29, …to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
WHEN the Apostle Paul concluded his pivotal letter to the church at Ephesus, commanding the one and many to “put on the whole armor of God”, it was to the end that the called of God would fight evil, do good, and by faith having done all, to stand in the three-fold battle of the elect (Eph. 6:10ff). To the uninitiated, that three-fold battle is one in which the believer is found engaged in opposition, whether they are aware of it or not, with the world around them, spiritual forces unseen, and their very own nature at war with God. It is with these three forces that the Christian must take up arms, even against self, the most deceptive adversary (Jer. 17:9).
WISDOM abounds, but it is not always heeded. Celebrated headmaster of Eton College, Cyril Alington (circa 1899) was once confronted by an aggressive mother:
“Are you preparing Henry for a political career?” the mother asked Alington.
“No,” he said.
“Well, for a professional career?”
“No,” he replied.
“For a business career, then?”
“No,” he repeated.
“Well, in a word, Dr. Alington, what are you here at Eton preparing Henry for?”
“On a word madam? Death. That is the principle mission of our education here.”
HE went on to explain that in preparing the students for life, the starting point was learning the reality that life is short and ends in death, and instilling the courage to face the reality that nothing in this world endures except that reality beyond what cannot be seen and heard and felt. That is where life’s true meaning resides.
HAVE we not heard this in the familiar words of our Lord, Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Mark 8:34-36
WHEN confronted by the rich young ruler, with all of his proclamations our Lord said, looking at him in love he said, One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me. This is tough love speaking, because the cross means dying to self above all else. When our Lord say’s, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1Pet. 1:16; Eph. 1:4) it is no abstract. It is to bear the image of Christ in godliness, for [He] has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Pet 1:3-8)
Please note carefully: “FOR if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful…”
I close with the following words worth repeating from J.R. Miller.
Not what we HAVE or what we KNOW, but what we ARE!
We must strive to realize every longing for holiness and Christlikeness, which our hearts seek. Remember that it is character alone, which is the test of true living.
It is not knowledge; for knowledge will fail.
It is not money; for money cannot be taken into the eternal world.
It is not fame; for fame’s laurels fade at the grave’s edge.
It is not culture, or education, or refinement either.
It is our character alone–not what we HAVE or what we KNOW, but what we ARE — which we can carry with us into the eternal world.
“He who is unjust–let him be unjust still; he who is filthy–let him be filthy still; he who is righteous–let him be righteous still; he who is holy–let him be holy still.” (Revelation 22:11)
In the wondrous blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10 (Isa 30:15)
