The Believer’s Responsibility: Develop Christlike Character
In 2002, my younger brother bought a new motorcycle called the Yamaha Banshee. Seeing the new motorcycle unleashed something in me. Even though I was 32, my brain went back to my teenage years when I thought I was invincible.
I asked him if I could take it for a spin up and down our parents’ dirt road.
Now, whenever you get in a vehicle without a roof, seatbelts, airbags, or really any safety features at all, especially if it has a name like “Banshee,” you probably should learn how to handle that machine before testing its limits. But that thought was not going through my mind as I revved up and quickly hit 60 or 70 miles per hour.
What I hadn’t factored in was the stopping distance needed before the S-curve in the dirt road.
When I realized I was in trouble, I did everything possible to slow down before going into the ditch, but at such high speed, the brakes only made the tires slide along the loose gravel. All I remember was a telephone pole flashing by my head as I careened along the ditch. Frankly, it was quite scary! What I didn’t see was God’s angel working overtime to preserve my life since the Lord wasn’t through with me yet!
That was nearly a catastrophic failure on my part. I could have been seriously injured or even killed. The good news is, we can learn from anything. I learned to know my equipment and environment better before taking off. Plus, I also matured a bit in considering risk versus caution!
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3a, ESV). Sanctification is both being set apart for God when we come to faith in Christ and learning to live as those who are now in Christ.
The Apostle Paul also wrote, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:28-29, ESV).
Many people know this verse about God working for our good. In fact, it is often used as a glib statement when people are going through a difficult time. “Just remember, God works all things for good” a person might say.
But note the purpose for which God is working in the midst of all things, not all of which are good. His will is that we would continue to be sanctified, or in other words, conformed to the character of Jesus.
Often, the things in life that we learn from include difficult things outside of our control. The people and events going on around us can impact us, even damage us. Sometimes God doesn’t spare us from injury or tragedy.
But nothing can stop you or me from growing in character. In fact, when viewed in light of God helping us be sanctified, difficult people and difficult circumstances become catalysts for increasing our growth in Christlike character!
Dear Saints, is there a difficult person or situation you are facing in your life right now? Rather than just wishing it would go away, have you asked the Lord what He is trying to teach you through your trial? Have you specifically asked Him what character trait of Jesus He is developing in you through your experience?
Jesus was the strongest man ever (He stood up to the church leaders and the Romans in his day!) while also having the softest heart toward the hurting and hopeless. He perfected the art of forgiveness while being direct and clear according to the attitude of the person he was interacting with. He asked piercing questions with the purpose of encouraging others toward faith. And He took on the most horrendous, undeserved torture without lashing out against others.
Jesus knew His purpose. He came to seek and save that which was lost. Our purpose is to be sanctified—conformed to the image and character of Christ—so that our lives and testimonies point others to the Savior.
God works everything in your life toward developing Christlike character in you, even a near catastrophic failure as I experienced. And there is no one and nothing that can stop you and God from achieving this goal together.
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.