A INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT ~ By JH FORESTER “Thy Word is a Lamp” – Part 5 How does knowledge change people? First, the Bible identifies undesirable personality characteristics that have to be shed. These include such things as “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren..” (Proverbs 6:16-19) Second, the Bible describes desirable traits that we should cultivate, including “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”Galatians 5:22-23 Such accurate knowledge helps a sincere person to examine them self and see which personality traits they need to cultivate and which they must work to eliminate. (James 1:25) Nevertheless, that is only a beginning. In addition to knowledge, motivation is needed, something to move them so that they want to change. Here again, they need accurate knowledge from the Bible. Paul said that the desirable new personality is molded, “ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” (Colossians 3:10) So the Christian personality must resemble God’s own personality. (Ephesians 5:1) Through the Bible, God’s personality is revealed to us. We see His dealings with mankind and observe His fine qualities, such as His love, kindness, goodness, mercy, and righteousness. Such knowledge moves a righthearted person to love God and to want to be the kind of person that God approves. (Matthew 22:37) As loving children, we want to please our heavenly Father, so we try to imitate His personality as much as we can in our weak, fallen flesh.—Ephesians 5:1. Our motivation is strengthened by the knowledge the Bible gives as to where both good personality traits and bad ones lead. (Psalm 14:1-5; 15:1-5; 18:20, 24) We learn that David was blessed for his godly devotion and love of righteousness but that he suffered when he lost self-control. We see the sad outcome when Solomon’s fine qualities were corrupted in his old age. The blessings that resulted from the uprightness of Josiah and Hezekiah are contrasted with the calamitous effects of Ahab’s weakness and Manasseh’s stubborn apostasy. (Galatians 6:7) Thus we learn what Hebrews said in chapter 1:9: ‘ thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity.” Psalm 45:7; 97:10. This motivation is strengthened still more by an accurate knowledge of God’s purposes. Such knowledge helps to change the very ‘ the spirit of your mind,’ the spirit that motivates our thoughts and actions. (Ephesians 4:23, 24) When we study the Bible, we learn that God will not forever tolerate wickedness. One day He will destroy this unrighteous world and bring about ‘new heavens and a new earth.” (2 Peter 3:8-10, 13) Who will live in this new arrangement? “For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it..”—Proverbs 2:21, 22. If we truly believe this promise, our whole way of thinking will be affected. The apostle Peter, after prophesying the destruction of wickedness, says: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?.” (2 Peter 3:11, 12) Our personalities should be molded by our strong desire to be among the upright who will be left over when the wicked are destroyed. The book of Revelation promises upright ones that, after the end of this world, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away…But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Yes, these ones will be rejected. (Revelation 21:4, 8) How wise to avoid the undesirable qualities that God will refuse to allow in His new Heavens and new earth.How can we be motivated to do this? Our next post will answer. If you are in or visiting the Sacramento California area and would like to join our prayer and Bible study meetings please contact Pastor J for times and locations at: minister.forester@gmail or email us here on facebook. If you need prayer, have a Bible question, or would like to comment on any of the things that are posted, feel free to contact at the above email. The email is connected to the phone and will be received promptly. Jesus never said this journey would be easy, but, He makes it much easier. Come to Him!...God bless you!
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 20:09:05 +0000
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