Hello great people. I have been inspired this afternoon to write to you on the subject of Character. Romans 5:3-5 says:
“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.”
There is a spiritual mechanism in man that produces good Character. The best Character traits are produced, and not imitated. Those who imitate the Character of others soon find out they have not been real and truthful to themselves. In a world where everyone wants and love to put up different appearances in order to appear ‘to belong’ in a class, many who toe those paths often end up regretting why they have not been true to themselves. An online dictionary defines Character as “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.” Your Character is distinctive to you because it is produced in you.
According to the text above, the engine room where Character is produced in us, is tribulation. And it is not only Character that is produced in this engine room, it also produces perseverance and hope. A lot of people today see tribulation as an unpalatable experience. People would rather pray their way out of tribulation than glory in it. I mean, it takes a spiritual perception to know that tribulations aren’t meant to break us, but to produce something vital in us. Jesus made it clear categorically without mincing words: “in this world you will face tribulation.” But notice He didn’t say that the tribulation would kill you. He said further: “but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). So, you should not be surprised why the apostle Paul wrote that “we also glory in tribulations.”
Even those you would least expect, have their own tribulations they contend with too. Many nurse this erroneous belief that those who are rich and comfortable have all things working out for them. I believe you have heard the saying “the rich also cry.” Sometimes we are tempted to think people high up there don’t have issues they contend with in their lives. So, when Jesus made that statement: “in this world you will face tribulation”, even though He was talking to His disciples at the time, the statement somehow cut across every divide. You should never be tempted to assume that tribulations are only peculiar to certain people, and that other people don’t have their own troubles as well.
Why did I say all these? It is so that we can have that understanding that true Character is produced in everyone, irrespective of their societal status or what they have accomplished. So, Character is produced, and the production engine is tribulation. What you do or don’t do in your time of tribulations is what produces your Character. And this is why it is of utmost importance that you stay true to yourself when it seems the going is getting tougher. There is every tendency with most humans to want to assume what they are not, in trying times. The many things that usually cross your mind is how to just get out of the unpalatable situation.
I saw a movie recently about a young man who was wrongly accused of rape, meanwhile, he didn’t commit the offence. He was a young boy, so naïve and he was afraid of going to jail. Because of the fact that he wanted the whole trouble to disappear, and based on the counsel of his attorney to plead no contest to walk free, which means he will neither plead guilty nor not guilty to the crime before the judge in order to enjoy a minimal jail term, the young chap pleaded no contest. Eventually, this step landed him a sixteen-year jail time, with the opportunity of a parole after doing certain years in jail.
And this is how many people are today. Because they just want the trying times to be over with, they assumed different things that they aren’t. Some lie, some kill, and some would even do the unthinkable just to get out. No matter what it is that life is throwing at you at the moment, no matter how difficult they may seem, developing Character requires that you remain true to yourself even in this trying times. Never ever compromise what has made you that wonderful man or woman, boy or girl that the world has known you to be.
I believe you have been encouraged!
Article Source: [Centre for New Dimension Leadership]
