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Many different writers and thinkers have, down through time,
described something called the “Chain of Character.” Although different words
are sometimes used to explain it, the theme is always the same. It goes
something like this:
Thoughts lead to Actions, Actions become Habits,
Habits form Character, Character determines Destiny.
We may illustrate this
by means of a simple diagram:
Thus we have a chain, consisting of various links, that draw us into the
inheritance promised us. We are told by our Father in Scripture, “I know the
thoughts that I think toward you [...] thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to
give you an expected [hoped-for] end.” (Jeremiah 29:11) At the same time, we
know that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
This is one of the “troubling”
verses to those who do not understand the delicate balance between faith and
works. As in most spiritual things, there is a narrow truth, and a ditch of
error on either side. Some throw verses like this away completely, and claim
that actions are not important at all. Others emphasize those verses that speak
about works to the exclusion of others, and thus become legalists. The truth of
the matter is that works are important – but only because they demonstrate the
quality of one’s faith. It is written, “A good man out of the good treasure of
his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance
of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:42) In Biblical times, as truly
today, words and actions are very closely associated. In fact, when the first
English translations of the Bible came out, they would say things such as this
which is still reflected in the King James Version: “But as He which hath
called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” (1 Peter
1:15) The word “conversation” there does not mean merely one’s way of speaking,
but one’s way of acting in general.
The answer to the
difficulty with faith and works is well illustrated in the Chain of Character.
Our faith determines how we deal with thoughts, and because of this, actions
and all else follow. Christ said, “According to your faith be it unto you,”
(Matthew 9:29) and we find that only those in the faith can properly utilize
this chain to become proper reflections of the divine nature. Peter tells us,
even as he discusses the divine nature, “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 [Christian love]. For if these things be in you, and abound,
they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge
of our Lord Yahshua the Messiah. 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 1:5-8, 10)
Let the reader notice
the parallels in Peter’s words. Faith, virtue and knowledge have much to do
with Thoughts. Temperance (self control) and patience involve Actions
that reflect these faithful, virtuous and knowledgeable thoughts. Godliness (eusebia:
true piety and respect for the Almighty) involves consistent Habits of
right actions, for the principles of Heaven are implanted in the soul of the
believer. The natural result of this is the development of Charity (Agape
in the writer’s language): the pure, selfless love that is the very Character
of Christ. If we have followed this chain, we “shall never fall,” and thus our Destiny
is made sure.
In this essay, we will
examine the links that lie between each of these elements of the Chain. We will
begin by describing the principles linked together, and then show the clear
connection between them. We start with the very foundational link in the chain
– that of thoughts, and we will see how they relate to our behavior.
Thoughts are the spiritual part of a human being. They are the part of us that
cannot be touched or experienced directly by others, only known by the
individual and shared with others through expressive acts such as words or
motions. It is in the realm of thought that our plans are formed and the course
of our lives are decided. So important is the knowledge of our thoughts that
the apostles dedicated significant portions of their letters to explaining the
subject. Paul writes that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds: casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Yah, and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor 10:4,
5) Again he writes, “he that is spiritual judgeth all things [i.e. understands
them correctly], yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the
mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1
Cor 2:15, 16).
Paul’s letters to the
Corinthians were largely concerned with instructing those churchgoers who were
largely in ignorance about the principles of righteousness. We must remember
that Christianity today has been well known for two thousand years. If we say
the word “Christian” today, many thoughts immediately come to the mind of the
listener. Yet in the early days it was not so. Although individuals had the
best of teachers, the apostles themselves, there was much about which they
needed to be taught, even after joining themselves to the fellowship of
believers. (Acts 18:24 – 26, 19:2, 1Cor 6:19, James 4:4, etc.) In all these
things, the apostles sought to correct the error by appealing to the faith and
knowledge of the members of their audience. If the thoughts could be repaired,
the right actions would undoubtedly follow.
Christ tells us, “For
from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,
fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit,
lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil
things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21 – 23) It has been
noted that in the language of the Scriptures the “heart” actually means the
mind and thoughts. “And He said unto them, ‘Why are ye troubled? And why do
thoughts arise in your hearts?’” (Luke 24:38) If the writers wished to speak about
the seat of the emotions (which would be the heart to us now) they would use
the word bowels, meaning “inward parts.” “For Yah is my record, how
greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Yahshua the Messiah.” (Phl 1:8)
Understanding this allows us to glean new meaning from old Scriptures. When
Ezekiel records the promise of our Father: “A new heart also will I give you,
and a new spirit will I put within you,” (Ezek 36:26a) we can quite easily see
the parallel between this and other relevant verses. For example, Paul writes, “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 Yah.”
(Romans 12:2) The teaching is the same, a renewed mind is equivalent to a new
heart.
When Christ speaks of
the “heart of men,” therefore, He means that their thoughts are the root of all
those other things: evil men bring forth evil results. In Luke, as we saw
above, we find that the reverse is also true: “A good man out of the good
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good.” (Luke 6:42) The word
Christ uses in Mark 7 for “evil thoughts” is dialogismos which means
plans, purposes, internal debates. Evil thoughts lead to evil plans; good
thoughts lead to good plans, and thus we see the gap drawn between thoughts and
actions in the very teachings of the One who formed us, and knew us, in the
womb. (Jeremiah 1:5)
In controlling our
thoughts we find our emotions, our feelings, to be both allies and enemies. If
we find joy in the truth, and acknowledge the peace with which our Savior has
left us, (John 14:27) our opponents – both human and demonic – will find us
extraordinarily difficult to tempt. On the other hand, if we accept the
promptings of the flesh to sink into depression or unreasonable anger, our
enemies will find us extraordinarily easy to destroy. From the beginning we
were told of sin that it “lieth at the door.” (Gen 4:7) It is waiting to get
in, to find a place to grasp us in its claws and drag us down into oblivion.
Yet rather than fear, we may simply accept the promises of Scripture as being
true, and declare “I have the mind of Christ.” (cf. 1Cor 2:16)
Regardless of what we may feel, if we let the Bible and not our own perceptions
dictate our standard of reality, we find that indeed the promises come to pass
as expected. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:7)
This is literally “mind
control,” but we as individuals must control our own minds and not that
of others. Long before the slogan, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste,” the
Bible informed us that our minds are talents, just like any other, and it is
our responsibility before the Creator to develop them, sanctify them, and
render Him reasonable service through them. (Romans 14:15b, Phl 2:5, Romans
12:1) Based upon the Scriptures, we can develop a table of the thoughts likely
to be inspired by the Spirit, and those generally prompted by the flesh (often
with a little help from our tempters). We read that, “to be carnally minded is
death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace,” (Rom 8:6) therefore by
understanding these things we can do as Paul advised when he wrote to the
Corinthians saying, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your
own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Yahshua the Messiah is in
you, except ye be reprobates [useless, worthless, etc.]?” (2 Cor 13:5)
The Thoughts of Men
Spirit |
Flesh |
|
Is proactive (future-looking) |
Is reactive (now-looking) |
Now as we have seen of
the balance between faith and works, there is an error on either side of the
truth, and even a good thing may be taken to extremes. The statement that one
can be too “spiritual-minded” to be of any “earthly good,” while rather cynical
in its common applications, is not without a grain of truth. For each of these
principles we shall see that there is such a thing as “too much of a good
thing,” and we seek therefore to find the balance, and the truth, in every
principle of godliness.
1) The Spirit’s
leadings point our thoughts to the future. Paul writes, “if we hope for that we
see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Rom 8:25) We “shalt have
treasure in heaven,” (Luke 18:22) and so although we must suffer the cross now,
in denying selfish desires, (Matthew 16:24) we are comforted by both the fact
that we are preparing ourselves to stand before a holy Father, and that we are
actively assisting others in their preparations. By way of contrast, the flesh
is primarily concerned with the “now,” and the indulgence of current appetites,
even if it leads to sorrow later on. The apostles spoke much of those who
follow this path, “whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and
whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Phl 3:19)
To follow the flesh on
this is “death,” yet to follow supposedly spiritual things on this matter to
the exclusion of other righteous principles is not a practice as
commonly rebuked. Of course, the apostles did not let the matter pass without
comment, although many today do. James writes, “If a brother or sister be
naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, ‘Depart in
peace, be ye warmed and filled,’ notwithstanding ye give them not those things
which are needful to the body, what doth it profit?” (James 2:15, 16)
If we do not consider
the needs of the body, both within ourselves and others, we cannot be the
blessing we would be. If we are so forward-looking that we either neglect
current needs, or seek to fix everyone’s problems for them, we make of
ourselves a plague. The tendency to want to do things for other people is a
blessing, yet it can be taken to such an extreme that we offer our services
where they are not needed, wanted, or appreciated, and even the apparently
right-actions would then be motivated by a wrong thought. This practice, known
as “officiousness,” comes from ideas inherently selfish, for if we truly care
about those we seek to help, we will understand that there are some things
people need to do for themselves (even make their own mistakes) in order to
grow and mature. Our Heavenly Father, the perfect example, rebukes and chastens
those whom He loves, (Rev 3:19) but He does not prevent them from making the
mistakes in the first place!
2) The Spirit leads our
thoughts to intuition, to a knowledge that doesn’t always come about as the
result of a direct order. We are not always directly “commanded” by the
Almighty to do what we should do with step-by-step instructions. We are
prompted by a “still, small voice,” (1 Kings 19:12) which indicates a gentle
influence on our consciences. Christ tells us, “Henceforth I call you not
servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called
you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known
unto you.” (John 15:15) If we have the Spirit within us, that is, if the Spirit
directs our thoughts, we are not slaves, but intelligent, willing participants
in the plan of Salvation. We may be “servants to righteousness unto holiness,”
in that we are committed to the principles of truth and peace, but this is not
a hard servitude – it is joyful labor for a kindly Master.
If we behold a
situation out of order, if we see something that “somebody needs to fix,”
inasmuch as it is in our power to help, we should take responsibility for that.
Of course, we must beware of officiousness in this as well, and we ought not
exercise dominion or authority over the property of another without permission.
If we are always waiting to be told what to do, either by another human being,
or by a vision from Heaven, we are merely being servile, and not being led
intelligently by the Spirit of Yahweh. Remember, the Father seeks “reasonable,”
or intelligent, service.
3) The Spirit leads us
to thoughts of triumph, and not of defeat. The overcoming of obstacles begins
in the mind. It is only under very unique circumstances that one can gain a
victory by surrendering. Now, conversion to the way of Christ is one of these
circumstances, for a man is simply incapable of saving himself, and thus
must rely wholly on the power of the Messiah to lead him to everlasting life.
Within the Christian walk, however, we are required to use our talents and
abilities for the good of our fellow citizens of this earth. We are told that “in
all these [physical, earthly] things we are more than conquerors through Him
that loved us.” (Rom 8:27, and see verses 35 and 36 for the theme) Even such “supreme”
concerns as life and happiness are subject to our love for our Father and our fellow
humans. Indeed, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
To lose one’s life in
the service of Christ is not a loss, but a victory, and so we are assured that
no matter what happens to us, even if it seems to be defeat by the world’s
standards, if we have done all we can for the Kingdom of Heaven we are counted
victors. Of course, this has day-to-day applications as well. We may trust that
we have the “power to tread on serpents and scorpions,” (Luke 10:19) but we
will never know that if we get nervous in front of a crowd of humans. If we are
worried about our future, or scared of what tomorrow will bring, we are already
defeated, and certainly operating in the flesh.
Now, wrong thoughts can
take even the promise of triumph and turn it into a curse rather than a
blessing. The Scriptures tell us, “There shall no evil befall thee, neither
shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge
over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their
hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:10 – 12) Yet when
Satan brought this Scriptural principle to the Son “And saith unto Him, ‘If
thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give
his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up,
lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.’ Yahshua said unto
him, ‘It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’”
(Mark 4:6, 7) We must be confident, without being presumptuous; we may pray
with the Psalmist, “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them
not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent
from the great transgression.” (Psalm 19:13) This is another key to
right-thinking, and thus to right actions.
4) Again, as we saw
from James (2:15, 16), the truly Spiritual individuals effect changes in their
environment. Not only do they pray for the good of others, but also Christ will
say to them on behalf of the poor of the earth, “Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I
was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was
a stranger, and ye took me in; Naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye
visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Verily I say unto you,
inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me.” (Mat 25:34-36, 40)
The thoughts of the righteous,
while peaceful, are full of pity for those who have needs. Even in regards to
purely spiritual considerations, we have a people who know the truth, and who “sigh
and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst [of Jerusalem].”
(Ezekiel 9:4) When Martin Luther saw the evils of the Roman Church, he found
that he could not resist the voice of the Spirit to his conscience, and his
actions led to great changes in the environment of Christianity. The same may
be said for the prophets of the Old and New Testaments, the Reformers, and all
who have been called according to Yahweh’s purposes. Out of pure thoughts, pure
actions have sprung, and these have never been without beneficial consequences.
(Isaiah 55:11) It is true that the sower may not always see the harvest, but he
has done his part, he has planted the seeds, for the Spirit’s influence on our
thoughts leads us to awaken the sleeping, revive the languishing, and to give
life through our words and example to those who are stuck in the desolation of
sin.
5) The Spirit leads us
to growth, development and life. We are told, “And if Christ be in you, the
body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
(Rom 8:10) The thoughts of the Spirit lead us away from temptations, and into
purity. The body, the flesh in which sin dwells, (Romans 7:18) is dead if we
abide in the Spirit, and all that remains is life. Isaiah tells us, “Wash you,
make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease
to do evil, learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the
fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isa 1:16, 17) While “whosoever is born of
Yah doth not commit sin,” (1 John 3:9) we are not immediately made of the full
stature of Christ. (Eph 4:13) We must grow in grace and knowledge. We may not
do things we know are wrong, but the path of growth, and the development
of Christian character, is to learn what the right things are – that we may do
them, and learn what the wrong things are – that we may avoid them.
Those who are led by
the flesh never grow, even if it appears that they are improving. The
Bible speaks of those who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7) These are akin to they who “indeed
appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all
uncleanness.” (Mat 23:27) Some appear to have it all together on the outside,
and may even seem to be learning and getting better and more right with God as
time goes by... but remember that there is a Chain of Character. One weak link
and the entire chain is useless. One cherished sin in an otherwise spotless
life will halt any true progress in the Way of Christ, and any steps forward
will be, from Heaven’s point of view, an illusion. We must be fully consecrated
to the Master’s service, and then our thoughts will truly lead us to life
everlasting.
6) It is written, “God
hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound
mind.” (2 Tim 1:7) The primary fruit of the Spirit is love, (Gal 5:22) and thus
the motivation for the actions of a Christian are founded in thoughts of love
towards our Creator and our fellow man. “Yahshua said unto him, ‘Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto
it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang
all the law and the prophets.’” (Mat 22:37-40) Thoughts lead to actions most
clearly when discussing this aspect. To love, in the true and Biblical sense,
is not merely a positive emotion towards someone or some thing. It is a
commitment to do good for that individual or object no matter what the cost, it
is a dedication in which we find rooted the vows of human marriage: richer or
poorer, in sickness and health, for better or for worse. This is love, and
while there are powerful emotions associated with love, the emotions
themselves are not all that love is.
The opposite of love is
not hatred, but sin, of which hatred is only one aspect. Sin, if it is
examined, finds its origin in self, in selfish desires expressed, and selfish
motives fulfilled. Fornication, covetousness, adultery, theft, these all seek
to fulfill one’s desire, even at the expense of integrity to the law. Idolatry,
Sabbathbreaking and blasphemy express a dissatisfaction with the things the
true Creator has given us, and a desire to get for one’s self things that He
has seen fit (in His wisdom) to withhold from us, at least for a time. It is a
lack of peace, a lack of “rest” in the promises of the Most High. Murder, false
witnessing, dishonor of one’s parents, these are a revelation of selfish things
as well, for they are an attempt to dominate others either by the direct force
of our will, or the craftiness of deceit. All the commandments, by which define
what “sin” is, (Rom 7:7) are violated only when “self” is allowed to become a
motivating factor in the life.
When the thoughts are
controlled, when they are brought into captivity of the Son of Yah, and under
the influence of the Holy Spirit, they lead us naturally to right actions. We
therefore put our focus in thinking right thoughts and eliminating the false, and
we rejoice as we see our outward activities coming into nearer and nearer unity
with the perfect will of the Almighty for our lives. The value of the advice of
the Apostles on this matter is immeasurable: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on
these things.” (Phl 4:8) So thinking, so we will do.
The previous section, that dealing with thoughts and actions, was the longest
of this article. This is as it should be, for the thoughts are foundational to
all that follows, and are the main focus of the corrective measures outlined in
Scripture. Nevertheless, every link in the chain is vital, and much may be said
about the topic of Actions as they lead to Habits.
One of the main
Scriptures that may be used to illustrate this idea is found here: “But every
man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished,
bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14 – 16) Some
have not known just what to do with this verse, for the Scriptures so clearly
point out that “the wages of sin is death,” (Rom 6:23) that “Whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin,” (John 8:34) and that “He that committeth
sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose
the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
(1 John 3:8) Yet the passage from James seems to indicate a “process” of
falling, and some have used this to claim that only long-term habits of sin
lead to death, but that “A Christian may occasionally commit known acts of sin,
as long as it doesn’t become a habit.”
This is hardly James’
meaning, for James taught clearly, “Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the
Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12) It is those who endure,
or resist, the temptations to sin, that receive the crown of life. It is not
those who submit every now and again. Again, speaking of sin and righteousness,
James asks, “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine,
figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” (James 3:12) In this
he echoes the teachings of the Savior, who lets us know that a human “tree” can
only be either good, or evil. (Matthew 7:18, 12:33)
What James is
expressing in Chapter 1, verses 14 – 16 is that “sin” begins with individual
actions. Giving in to temptation brings forth a sinful act. Now, if one commits
a sinful act willfully, according to 1 John 3, Hebrews 10 and various
other passages, this is not merely a temporary condition, but requires that the
individual be converted. A converted individual does not sin, and in fact James
himself gives no provision for deliberate sin in the life of a convert. He
writes in the closing words of his letter, “Brethren, if any of you do err from
the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth the
sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a
multitude of sins.” (James 5:19, 20)
If a believer sees one
in error and successfully reasons with him, he has gained his brother, (Mat
18:15) but if this is not done, that one who has committed the sin remains unconverted,
and is not saved from death. James in these passages is establishing a very
important teaching: once a sinful act becomes encoded in the being as a habit,
it is often a very difficult activity to surrender. Many have been converted
from the errors of alcoholism, sexual addiction, smoking, gambling, violent
outbursts and so on... yet among them are many who have been so damaged by the
repeated practice of these activities that until they are in the very presence
of the Most High, their flesh groans after these things. Habits, formed by
repeated actions, become a part of the life, and though the flesh is dead in a
convert, the tempters will continue to use those things against which we are
known to be weak to give us the trials that make up the “cross” of the
Christian life here on earth.
“Sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death.” If we allow sin to complete its work in us, to
be brought forth as an action, and then to neglect or refuse to repent of it
when it becomes known to us AS sin, this will bring forth death. We may be
tempted, but the desire – if it is not cherished – does not constitute sin.
Christ was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet [was] without sin.” (Heb
4:15) When He was hungry, Satan appealed to His desire, and attempted to get
Him to abuse His power by turning stones into bread. (Mat 4:3) While He found
the promises of the Father a comfort in His trials, Satan attempted to get Him
to presume on the loving kindness of the One who had sent Him. (Mat 4:5, 6)
When He was being led by the Spirit of truth, Satan attempted to awaken pride
within Him by offering Him the kingdoms of the earth. (Mat 4:9) In all these
things, the tempter attempted to use the desires, or potential desires, of the
Son of Yahweh against Him.
He was unsuccessful
with the Master, and he will be unsuccessful with us, if we make it our habit
to dwell within the promises of the Father and Son. If our actions have come
from right thoughts, and we have established them as the mode of our lives, we
will consistently, “Resist the devil, and he will flee.” (James 4:7) Our habits
must be built on actions that are just and true, and while we must give no
place to the flesh, we must find a balance to our activities even within what
is considered to be “spiritual.” We have touched on this earlier, but will
discuss it more clearly now.
We must be careful in
the discussion of this matter, for the state of the universe is such that our
main enemies are not flesh, but spirit, and therefore even if we have
activities that may be defined as spiritual, that does not mean that
they are holy. In the world today, it is often a great complement in
some circles to be described as a “spiritual” individual. This ought to give us
pause, for Satan is “spiritual” in this loose sense of the word, being a spirit
himself. Yahweh the Almighty has sent His very Son to live and die for us, “that
we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4) To be
holy is to be not merely spiritual, but of God’s Holy Spirit. Thus in our
discussion of the table above which deals with the difference between spirit
and flesh, we saw that there is a wrong way to be on the side of the “spirit.”
Those who take things given to be blessings, and use them to extremes, or
without love as their motive, will probably find themselves in greater error
than those who merely drag along after the sensory gratification of fleshly
lusts.
Now, it should not be
taken from the diagram above that the promptings of the flesh necessarily have
a place in the mind of one who is of the Spirit. The overlap there is merely to
point out that there are human needs and considerations that must be taken into
account. We feed our brethren when they hunger, we warm them when they are
cold, and we heal them if they are suffering under some bodily discomfort.
Unlike those of the heresy known as “Gnosticism,” Christians have a more
balanced view of sin and the flesh. Paul writes to tell us, not that the flesh
is evil of itself, but rather that sin dwells in the flesh. (Rom 7:17,
18, 23) This is to say, the flesh is the avenue by which sin comes. For the man
who is not yet converted the sin dwelling in the flesh leads to destruction, as
Paul was describing of his experience “when [he was] in the flesh, [and] the
motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in [his] members to bring
forth fruit unto death.” (Romans 7:5) But for the convert we know a better
experience: “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we
were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of
the letter.” (Romans 7:6) Though our bodies remain sinful until resurrection or
translation, (1 Cor 15:51 – 54) we nevertheless overcome the flesh, and with it
the “law of sin and death,” through the influence of the Spirit, and thus do
not commit sin. (Romans 8:2, 4; Galatians 5:16) This is the “habit” of a
Christian.
Our habits are those
collections of actions that we perform on a routine basis. While most people
think of the terms “habit” and “habit-forming” as necessarily bad, there are
good habits as well, that Christians would do well to develop. It was the “custom”
or manner of the Messiah to be in the house of His Father during Sabbath days.
(Luke 4:16) Although His death and resurrection a few years later altered where
the “house” of His Father was located, (John 4:12) the principle still applies.
(Hebrews 10:25) We read that it was the custom of the Savior’s family to gather
at the annual feasts. (Luke 2:42) It was Paul’s manner to live as purely as he
knew how, (Acts 26:4) and women were counseled to have a habit of dressing
modestly. (1 Timothy 2:9) We read Paul’s praise of certain believers who had, “addicted
themselves to the ministry of the saints,” (1 Cor 16:15) and this, the only
place in the Bible where the term “addicted” is used, is certainly a practice
all should develop. In general, we are told to “be [...] holy in all manner of
conversation,” (1 Peter 1:15) which is essentially to have a consistent
practice of godly words and actions.
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, ‘Of a truth I perceive that Yah is no
respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with Him.’” (Acts 10:34, 35) Time and again, we are
told, “there is no respect of persons with God,” (Romans 10:12) and “your
Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him.”
(Ephesians 6:9) Believers are told to adopt this manner of thought and action: “My
brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Yahshua the Messiah, the Lord of
glory, with respect of persons. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit
sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (James 2:1, 9) We must
therefore conclude that this is a clear and established doctrine: Yah is no respecter
of persons.
Yet, though Yah is no
respecter of persons, and we are told not to be of this spirit either, we read
some interesting things about our Father’s dealings with individuals and
nations. David was considered “better” than Saul in the eyes of Heaven. (1 Sam
15:28) Daniel was told that he was “greatly beloved” by the inhabitants of
Heaven. The people of Israel are called the “beloved” of the Creator. (Isaiah
5:1) How are we to understand these things?
The Bible lets us know
how this may be resolved. It is written of the first brothers, “By faith Abel
offered unto Yah a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, Yahweh testifying of his gifts: and by it he
being dead yet speaketh.” (Hebrews 11:4) We are told that “unto Cain and to his
offering [Yah] had not respect,” (Genesis 4:5) and that Cain was led into
transgression “because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”
(1 John 3:12)
By our faith, we are
accepted or rejected by the Father of Spirits. By what we truly believe, we
have power over our thoughts, and our corresponding actions and habits bear
witness to our faith. By our faith in the promises of Yah, we “might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4) It is by having a “nature,” or a character,
that corresponds with the Savior’s that we gain favor with our Creator. It is “not
of works, lest any man should boast,” (Eph 2:9) but it is about character. God
is a respecter of character. It doesn’t matter in what “person” this character
manifests, for “Yahweh is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Our Father does
select those who will be lost and those who will be saved, this much is true,
for “they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation
17:14) But, His selection of the elect is not an arbitrary one! “The
hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in
spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” (John 4:23)
Those who have the
character of Christ, those who will worship in Spirit and in truth, those who
do not resist the leadings of the Spirit... these are they who are the “very
elect,” and thus we see that the “vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” (Rom
9:22) were made so by their own choices. Their habits had defined their
character. Those who will ultimately be lost are described as, “Having eyes
full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable
souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children.”
(2 Peter 2:14) Their covetous practices have poisoned their minds, and they
have no more power to overcome the world and its fatal influence upon their
souls. Their characters have been shaped, and it is a difficult task indeed to
undo such a work. Only the miracle of full conversion can make that which is
crooked straight. (Ecc 1:15, Psalm 51:10)
The Almighty tells us
without controversy, “When I shall say to the righteous that he shall surely
live, if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his
righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath
committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt
surely die,’ if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right, if
the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the
statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall
not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him:
he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Yet the children
of thy people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal,’ but as for them, their
way is not equal. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and
committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his
wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.”
(Ezekiel 33:13 – 19)
This principle has not
changed under the New Covenant. Peter says of one class mentioned by Ezekiel,
those who once knew the truth and turned away, “it had been better for them not
to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn
from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them
according to the true proverb, ‘The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and
the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.’” (2 Peter 2:21, 22) On
the other hand, to the sinners the Gospel of Christ is, “Repent ye therefore,
and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of
refreshing shall come from the presence of Yahweh.” (Acts 3:19) This again was
Peter speaking.
Repentance leads to a
change in the life, to a reversal of character, and to a drawing-near to the
Prince of Life. Paul spoke in sharp tones to the congregation in Corinth, yet
they did not turn away from his rebuke, and accepted the correction in
humility. Upon learning of this, the apostle writes, “For though I made you
sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that
the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I
rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for
ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in
nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented
of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing,
that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea,
what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what
vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have
approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” (2 Cor 7:8 – 11)
What a change! The
correction of the spirit through the voice of the messenger led to a complete
conversion of the character of those members of Paul’s audience. With a change
in character came a change in their ability to be trusted with the Gospel, and
an acceptance of their progress in the author’s heart. Paul declares, “I
rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.” (2 Cor 7:16)
What was it that had so
distressed Paul in the first place? It was the character of the Corinthian
congregation, as expressed in, and resulting from, their habitual swerving from
the strait and narrow path. The catalogue of their misdeeds may be read in Paul’s
letters to them, and we read also of a similar statement to those in Galatia, “O
foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth,
before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among
you?” (Gal 3:1) Paul’s primary concern among the believers was that their faith
should be pure, for it is through faith that the grace of the Almighty is made
effective, and that the undeserved merit He extends to us through the atoning
Sacrifice of His Son is reckoned unto us as righteousness.
Though Yah is not a
respecter of any person for that person’s own sake, He is a respecter of
faith and character, for it is written, “without faith it is impossible to
please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb 11:6) We are told this most
precious truth: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with Yahweh
through our Lord Yahshua the Messiah, by whom also we have access by faith into
this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of Yah. And not
only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh
patience, and patience experience, and experience hope.” (Romans 5:1 – 4) The
word “experience” there is the Greek dokime, which means exactly this: a
tested and proven character. The working of our faith produces in us good
works, good habits, and consequently a godly character, and those who have this
are indeed respected, and accepted, by the Father and Son.
We have seen how habits shape our character. We may either let ourselves be
drawn into obedience by the voice of the Spirit and the Bride calling us,
(Revelation 22:17) or we may remain in the world and eventually come to the
point where we “cannot cease from sin,” even if we desire to do so, like Esau,
for fear of punishment. (2 Pet 2:14, Hebrews 12:17) While Christ is always
willing to forgive, (Matthew 18:22) a constant and habitual practice of
ignoring the Spirit’s leadings, and thus the development of an ungodly
character, constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and leads one to “eternal
damnation.” (Mark 3:29) Herein we see how character determines our destiny.
Just before the return
of Christ, all the cases will have been decided for life or death. Every name
will have been examined in the Book of Life (Rev 3:5) and the Book of
Remembrance, (Mal 3:16) and those whose names are not found written therein
will be bound as tares for the fires of destruction. (Mat 13:30) The Savior
declares, as He leaves His office as High Priest and puts on His aspect of King
of Kings, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy,
let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still;
and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my
reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Rev
22:11, 12) The time immediately following the return of Yahshua sees the
character of every individual sealed, and with it the determination of every
destiny. When He appears the reward for every man, woman and child is already
with Him, and the “judgment” (Gk: krisis) before the Throne is merely a
review of the books, and the passing out of sentences. (Rev 20:11 – 15)
This final link in the
Chain is key to our understanding, for we must realize that our destiny is
determined based ultimately upon our thoughts. Solomon, reflecting on his life,
writes, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days
come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, ‘I have no pleasure in
them.’” (Ecc 12:1) Whether by death through old age, by death through violence
or illness, or by the soon return of our Master, we all end this life; and in
the great day of Yahweh “we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
(Rom 14:10) Solomon concludes his inspired works with the admonition, “Let us
hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Yah, and keep His commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man. For the Almighty shall bring every work into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
(Ecc 12:13, 14) Truly, though Solomon’s statement is undoubtedly vital, our
main focus should be neither on our works, or on the punishment involved in
disobedience, for in the increasing light of the Gospel we find that the love
of Christ is what truly motivates us. “There is no fear in love; but perfect
love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made
perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) If we let our thoughts be those of love, we
cannot fail to develop the right character, and thus end up in the right place
at the end of all things.
It is a sobering truth
that there is a judgment to come, and we are not left in ignorance that the
shaping of our characters determines our destinies in regard to this judgment.
Solomon’s words have place. But even with this knowledge we are assured of
this: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of
Judgment: because as [Yah] is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17) Some may
be saved “with fear,” (Jude 1:23) in that it takes a knowledge of the coming
judgment to awaken them out of their spiritual slumber, (1 Cor 15:34) but fear
will not keep anyone faithful. After they have been awakened, they must be
taught the real motivation for the Christian life, that of perfect love, and
this perfect love leads to a peace of mind, and yes... even a boldness when
facing the judgment to come.
It is often asked, “why
do bad things happen to good people?” This is one of the great questions of
human philosophy. Yet the answer can only be truly known if we understand and
appreciate the relevant aspects of the Spiritual world. The true conflict in
the universe is not about human beings, but about our Father and those who
accuse Him of injustice, partiality and an arbitrary exercise of His authority.
We read the classic example of the beginning, progress, and end of a great
human trial in the Book of Job. Job was, by all accounts, a righteous man. (Job
1:1) Yet in spite of this, there were some defects within his character that
needed to be examined and eliminated before he could enter into the position
that the Almighty would have for him: a shining example of hope and patience to
countless generations. (Ezekiel 14:14, 20; James 5:11)
Although Job was
righteous in all that he knew, he had certain traits such as an apparent
reliance on ritual rather than faith, and a fear for his family’s safety. (1:5)
While any loving father would be concerned for the spiritual well-being of his
household, (1 Tim 5:8) Job confessed when his children were slain and his
property lost, “the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and
that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had
I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.” (Job 3:25, 26) Job, whether
or not he kept a literal 7th day Sabbath, was not in heart a Sabbathkeeper, by
his own confession. He had not yet understood the spirit of divine rest to
which the day has always been pointing, (Heb 4:9 – 11) but thought that by his
own works he could ensure the safety of his possessions and offspring.
What occurred next was
a “character-building exercise” of epic (we might even say “Biblical”)
proportions. With the exception of Christ’s sufferings for our sins, and
possibly that of Abraham being instructed to offer his son as a sacrifice, we
see no greater trial in the pages of Scripture. We learn that Satan latched
upon Job’s character flaws and thus used them as an accusation against the
otherwise faithful servant. He said to the Most High, “Doth Job fear Elohim for
nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about
all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and
his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch
all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” (Job 1:9 – 11)
While Job was not
actually more concerned with his riches and possessions than with his loyalty
to the Creator, (Job 1:21, 22) we find that his true issues were revealed in
the anguished confession of chapter 3 (verses 25, 26 as quoted above), and thus
we are able to understand the true reason he underwent his experiences. It is
written, “Let no man say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted of God,’ for God
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.” (James 1:13) It is
also written, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” (Rev 3:19a) “Behold, I
have refined thee,” says our Father, “but not with silver; I have chosen thee
in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10) Seeing all these Scriptures in
concert reveals that Yahweh does not merely bring trials upon us for arbitrary
reasons, but will allow evil times to come that we may be “refined,” and ready
for the day of judgment mentioned by Solomon and John. Job understood much of
this principle, and therefore did not accuse the Almighty of injustice
concerning what occurred.
The Christian character
relies on the knowledge that “all things work together for good to them that
love Yah, to them who are the called according to His purpose,” (Rom 8:28) even
when things do not appear to be going well. Their thoughts are fixed on the end
result of the difficulties, and not on the present trials. Paul tells us, “our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Cor 4:17) The Christian character is
acquainted with the spirit of the Sabbath day, that of perfect, eternal rest in
the promises of Christ. Again Paul writes, “I have learned, in whatsoever state
I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to
abound; every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me.” (Phl 4:11 – 13)
Job maintained this
trust, and we read of no further efforts of Satan to annoy him when he had
overcome this great test, and “Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than
his beginning.” (Job 42:12) If we maintain this upright character, even in the
face of the greatest of temptations, we will endure to the end, and our latter
end will be blessed more than our current estate – we will find our eternal
inheritance with our Father, and enter into our intended destiny.
Conclusion
We have seen the Chain
built one link at a time. We have seen examples in the Scriptures of right
thoughts leading to right actions, and unholy thoughts leading to
unrighteousness. We have seen these actions practiced until they became
habitual activities of those who were, in the course of Sacred history, blessed
or cursed for what they have purposed in their hearts to do. We have seen the
character of men develop based upon their habits, either unto glory – like Job,
or unto profanity – like Esau. And finally, we have read the prophecies of the
messengers, and the words of Christ Himself, declaring that the character of a
man, whether it be just or unjust, will reveal the manner of faith he has, and
determine therefore his eternal lot.
If we submit our
thoughts to the Holy Spirit, through which the Father and Son dwell within us,
we will face even the trails of faith with boldness, for we are instructed, “that
the trial of [our] faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory
at the appearing of Yahshua the Messiah.” (1 Peter 1:7)
We are told that
Yahweh, “sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust,” (Matthew 5:45) and also
that “man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:7) Every
human life has times of rest, and times of trial. Yet our thoughts, our
actions, our habits, and ultimately our characters will determine how we
respond. In many and various ways, the Bible illustrates the differences men
experience when they are brought into to the “furnace of affliction” through
which our Creator seeks to purify us.
The Fires of Affliction
Christian Character |
Worldly Character |
|
Silver (Pro 24:5) |
Dross (Pro 24:5) |
What is the
significance of the Chain of Character? It provides us a connection with the
One who is the “Author and Finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) It is a
symbol of the “bands of love” (Hosea 11:4) with which our Savior draws us to
Himself, and it is the means by which we make ourselves ready to meet both the
trials of the last days, and the unlimited holiness of the Divine Presence. We
note from the table above that the symbols of the Christian character consists
entirely of those things that either resist the heat of a furnace (gold,
silver, a limitless fountain of water), or are spared from its destructive
effects (useful vegetation such as vines, herbs and wheat). On the other hand,
we find all that those who do not develop the right character have a common
destiny in the flames, to be consumed by the glory of the Almighty, “for our
God is a Consuming Fire.” (Heb 12:29) The Fire is the same: it is everlasting
and holy, but the effect on the object to which It is applied depends on what
that object is “made of.”
The Chain of Character
binds us to our Father, and we become one with each other and with Him, even as
the Father and Son are One, (John 17:21) for we share in their Spirit and in
their divine nature. We know that before the final judgment is visited on
mankind, “unto [Yahweh] every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely
shall one say, ‘In Yahweh have I righteousness and strength: even to Him shall
men come,’” and on the other hand, “‘all that are incensed against Him shall be
ashamed.’” (Isaiah 45:23, 24) We must be ready for that day.
Let us commit therefore
to acknowledging the “mind of Christ” that has been given to us as an undeserved
gift, and “having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in
the fear of Yah.” (2 Cor 7:1) The Chain leads us to put away all filthiness of
spirit (thoughts) and flesh (actions and habits), and thus we cannot fail to
perfect holiness (a godly character) before the presence of the Most High.
Truly it will be said to the Remnant, when the Bridegroom comes to lead us to
our eternal destiny, “Thou hast ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse; thou
hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.”
(Song of Solomon 4:9)
David.
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