What is the one thing we will take with us to heaven?
If you said, ‘our character’, you would be right.
Character is defined as the moral qualities that an individual possesses. Our character determines how we react to and in certain situations. Character is what informs our choices and ultimately our experiences.
The bible annotates character as ‘fruit’. It describes the kinds of fruits we are to have. These fruits will determine how we respond to different circumstances as well as the outcomes of our responses.
Matthew 7:16-19 “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.“
These verses present to us a tree and its fruit; the tree symbolises an individual. The fruit on the other hand symbolises the individual’s character. A good ‘person’ cannot have bad ‘character’ and the same can be said for a bad person not being able to possess good character.
A person can now ask what these fruits or characters we are supposed to possess are. The answer is simple: The Fruit of the Spirit.
Paul outlines what the fruit of the flesh and what the fruit of the Spirit are in Galatians 5:16-26
We will firstly take a look at what the fruit of the flesh or what the characters of the flesh are. These are found in verse 19 through 21.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Paul ends verse 21 by saying that people who practice these works will not inherit the kingdom of God. As a Christian if you find yourself identifying with even one of the traits above you should be frightened.
But because we have such a Loving and Gracious Father, He outlines through Paul the traits or fruit or characters we are supposed to have in order to inherit eternity.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26
And these are they.
These fruits may seem simple, but they cannot be built in a day, a year, or a single event, but by a daily practice of prayer and renewing of the mind in the Word of God.
J MacArthur once said that “You will never become spiritually mature, unless you develop endurance, and you can only develop endurance as you persevere in faith through painful experiences.” Like it was stated earlier our character is what determines how we react in situations and what informs our experiences. There is no doubt that as Christians, we will face many difficult trials that will require us to put in practice the faith we profess.
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
My encouragement to us today, is to have a character that is so refined, that when it is tried in the fires of life, it may come out purer and stronger than before.
To close I would like to borrow some words from Mr. Derek Prince to drive home the importance of a good godly Christian character.
“Look from the point of view of eternity. God will not sacrifice the tiniest portion of eternity for the greatest length of time, because time is not permanent; eternity is. Our gifts will cease when life begins, we will not take them with us; they are only for this world. They are only for this time. One thing we will take with us is our character; character is permanent. The building of a pure, strong and godly Christian character – this is enduring riches.”
D. Prince
Until the next one, stay faithful!
