CHARACTER

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1898

The most important thing in all the universe is character. The most precious thing in the sight of God is a good character; and, conversely, the most detestable thing in all His realm is a character of the opposite sort; for “the righteous Lord loveth righteousness,” and hateth wickedness.

And so ought every reasonable creature to regard character. But it is a strange fact that many persons regard reputation as of more value than character. That is, they regard what people think of them as of more worth than what they really are. On the face of it such judgment reveals a bad or defective character, which the possessor is willing to exchange for a good or uncertain reputation. Such a choice also reveals either that the chooser has no desire to better his character, or no faith that it will ever undergo transformation.

The supreme character of the universe, supreme in wisdom, strength, and goodness, is that of God; and “God is love.” That character has, besides other ways, been revealed to the world in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wise is that character in that it took in all ages, all times, all lengths and breadths, all heights and depths, foresaw all exigencies which have or could arise, and laid a plan so full, so broad, so complete, so perfect and all-comprehending, that it has met all difficulties and exigencies without surprise, and demonstrated its capacity to meet them till the triumph of ultimate good.

So strong is that character that it triumphs always, even amid seeming defeat. It was thought by the personification of the character of evil that God was overthrown and that good had succumbed, when Jesus Christ was locked under Roman seal in the rock-hewn sepulcher, but by means of death, God destroys him who brought death into the world, the devil. God is strong; and the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of him whose heart is perfect toward Him. His strength reaches not only to the end of this life or world, but reaches into the life to come; therefore, “trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

So loving is God’s character that He withheld not His only-begotten Son, but delivered Him up freely for us all. He commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Having given Heaven’s choicest gift, will Infinite Love withhold our needs?—Nay; He can not do it; for in giving Christ, He gave all in Christ. And all His attributes of character are perfected in love.

The character of love is the character which God desires in His people. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5:48. God’s goodness, His perfectness, is His glory. Ex. 33:18, 19. Man has fallen short of that glory. His character does not meet the standard. He sold himself under sin. But God in His infinite goodness wishes to restore His character in man, and He has made ample provision that this may be done. That provision is through the sacrifice and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ. He who will submit to God, who will by faith let God’s Word bring into his life the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be transformed to the same character. This God desires, yea, longs for with unutterable longing. He desires it so much that He gave His own Son, and empties heaven of its angelic host, that He may make characters to endure to all eternity.

But to do this, God must have our co-operation. If He has this, the precious treasure of character may be possessed by every one.