The Test of Character

Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Purifying silver is a delicate process. It is necessary to heat it just enough for the impurities to rise to the surface. But if heated too much it will become dull and blemished. A silversmith was once asked, “How do you know how much to heat the silver?” He replied, “Well, I heat it till I can see my face reflected in the silver.”

It’s the same with us. We have to be tested, our characters refined, until we reflect the image of the Divine Silversmith. He would have us shine as a light to the world. The world may not read the Bible and study our truth, but they should be able to see Christ in us. If we truly reflect the image of the Creator, we will show them what Christianity is about. It is about living a better life. Reflecting Christ in everything we do.

Many people have the idea that to believe is all that is necessary to be saved. This is true, but it is also necessary to prepare our character to be fit for the society of heaven. If we were to come into heaven with impurities in our character, we wouldn’t be happy. We have to refine our characters before we are fit for heaven.

Ellen White saw a vision in which a group of people were traveling up a path. They were professed Christians, a big group.

Some had carriages with them, others rode on horses; all were traveling with a great number of possessions. As they traveled, the path became narrower, until they had to leave the carriages behind. Here a great number turned around rather than leave their goods behind. Many kept on, riding on horses or walking. Again, the path became narrower, until the horses had to be left. More turned around, cherishing their goods above eternal life. Some continued
on, taking only a few things with them.

The path became narrower; more and more people turned back, not willing to pay the price. As they went along, ropes appeared above them, lending them extra support as they went. The path steadily dwindled until it disappeared. Now those continuing on had to hold only onto the ropes for support.
The ropes became larger until they could swing across a large gulf into heaven.

The test of our character is revealed in this vision. People were unwilling to leave their things or habits behind. They cherish their goods above eternal life. Our character will be tested in the same way. We have to take hold of the ropes of faith if we want to get into heaven. We won’t reach heaven if we
cherish even one thing above heaven. We will turn back before we get there. We must willingly endure hardships to enter heaven for an eternal holiday.

There is only one way we can endure the tests on our character. We can only do it with the continual help of God. 2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, [it is] nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou [art] our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Asa cried to the Lord. He was in a hopeless situation in the fight against his enemies.
Because he trusted the Lord, and served the Lord, he knew that God would help him. He prayed to God and received the help he required.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

We too are fighting an innumerable host. ?By ourselves, we may as well give up. The situation is hopeless without the help of the Lord. But the Lord has promised us all the help we need. We only have to go to him for help. He has promised to give us all the help we need. Proverbs 18: 10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

The Lord is a fortress of strength for us. But we have to run into this fortress to be safe. If we stand outside we will surely be destroyed. There are two options. Stand outside, and get destroyed, or run to the protection of God and be saved.

An interesting thought is that Satan’s host is outnumbered 2 to 1. Satan, as you may r member , only took one third of the angels with him in rebellion. So we may be sure that for every evil angel Satan sends, God can send two. But we have to realize our danger and ask God for help. If we just dream our way through life Satan will get us like a wolf will get an unsuspecting sheep when it leaves the shepherd. The Good Shepherd will never forsake us, but we may run ahead of Him, or away from Him.

“So we may resist temptation, and force Satan to depart from us. Jesus gained the victory through submission and faith in God, and by the apostle He says to us, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.’ James 4:7, 8. We cannot save ourselves from the tempter’s power; he has conquered humanity, and when we try to stand in our own strength, we shall become a prey to his devices; but the name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.’ Prov. 18:10. Satan trembles and flees before the weakest soul who finds refuge in that mighty name.” {Desire of Ages p. 130}

“Christ will never abandon the soul for whom He has died. The soul may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life. Could our spiritual vision be quickened, we should see souls bowed under oppression and burdened with grief, pressed as a cart beneath sheaves and ready to die in discouragement. We should see angels flying swiftly to aid these tempted
ones, who are standing as on the brink of a precipice. The angels from heaven force back the hosts of evil that encompass these souls, and guide them to plant their feet on the sure foundation. The battles waging between the two armies are as real as those fought by the armies of this world, and on the issue of the spiritual conflict eternal destinies depend.” {Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.118}

Let us look to Christ for the help we need. Without Him we are lost, eternally lost. But through Him we can have eternal life. An eternity to live. An eternity to enjoy. An eternity to spend worshipping Christ. Ask God to forgive you, to help you to live a better life, and to help you overcome the forces of darkness.
AMEN.

Ben Dammasch
Queensland, Australia.