Will You Be Remembered?

 Luke 22:19 ... "Do this in remembrance of me."

When Jesus presided over the final meal with His disciples in an upper room somewhere in Jerusalem, He was facing death by crucifixion the next day. In His human state, He dreaded the torture and inde-scribable agony He would suffer; and surely, He was sad at leaving His friends. He knew they would be devastated by His terrible death, and He sympathized with their sorrow. He loved them and wanted them never to forget Him and what He did for them. It was the future mission of these men to make disciples of Christ of as many people as possible. And that mission continues from one generation to the next as long as the world stands. Jesus' desire to be remembered by every generation was His purpose for instituting the Lord's Supper to be observed by His disciples until He returns again.

It is common among people to hope that a person will not be forgotten when he passes from the worldly scene. So, we often leave behind mementos of ourselves ... pictures, personal items, letters, diaries, objects we have made, etc. Especially, we want a monument to be set up at our grave that displays our name, vital dates, perhaps a picture, a pertinent motto and, in special cases, a statue. But practical obser-vation should convince us that, in spite of all effort, those who survive us will not remember us for very long. Memory gradually fades as days past; grief is relieved by daily occupations until the person can again smile and enjoy life. The mind dwells less and less upon the life of the departed, though for some people it may take years before they can go through a day without a flashback of memory.

Of course, family and loved ones retain good memory when they wish to retrieve it, especially in con-versation or browsing through a photo album. But when one comes to the end of life's journey, the following generation will think with less detail and affection of the lives of his parents. Looking to the past, dear reader, can you name each of your 8 great-grandparents? or, each of your 16 great(x2)-grand-parents? Unless you are an avid genealogist, you may not know the name or anything about even one of your great(x3)-grandparents. So, let us face reality; we will be forgotten and unknown within three or four generations. Even if you leave behind a detailed biography, it will be of slight interest to few and of no interest to most within a century. So, as we are told in Rom. 12:3, "I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think."

When a person becomes a Christian, however, he is given status as a child of God and granted a place in God's holy family that is eternal. Then, as we are assured in Rev. 21:27, "those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" will be taken into heaven to live in glory forever. God does not forget the name and life of anyone who lives "faithful (in Christ) until death." His name is enrolled in the Book of Life in heaven, and beyond death he will be given by Christ a "crown of life," (Rev. 2:10). To run the course of life in this world with no interest in religion, no relationship with Christ, and no thought of answering to God beyond death, (see Rom. 14:11-12), is to be forgotten not only in the world you leave behind, but in the spiritual world everyone enters beyond death. To deny future exis-tence does not make it null and void. To disregard it by living as you wish, by "doing it my way" as Sinatra sang it, is to boast now of your independence and then bitterly regret it for an eternity. The first step to true wisdom and eternal identity is, therefore, to "deny (yourself) and take up your cross (assume your responsibility), and follow (Christ)." These are the best words it is possible for me to offer to any-one, and they are here offered for your benefit rather than mine.

Your Unavoidable Choice

Rom. 12:9 ... "Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good."

There is one final component of Christian character to add to those presented in the previous 17 articles on this subject. It is to make the right choice, which no one can avoid, between following the path of evil or the path of good in one's course through life. This involves the concept of dualism, which views the world as divided into two spheres, good and evil. Behind the good, supporting and promoting it, is God; behind the evil, promoting and supporting it, is Satan. These two beings are diametrically opposed to each other and in perpetual deadly conflict. Satan's goal is to overthrow God and destroy Him, annihilating everything that is good. It is God's purpose to overthrow and destroy Satan, annihilating all that is evil.

God has already won the first phase of this great conflict, (see Rev. 12:9). Satan is no longer in heaven, but he is for sure here on earth, where he continues in fury to wage war against God and all that comes from God. His chief weapon is deception, by which he blinds our eyes to his presence, his ambitions, and his opposition to all that is good. Satan's work in deceiving people is exposed throughout the Bible, and it's quite evident in every sin recorded from Genesis to Revelation. In John 8:44, Jesus was speak-ing of Stan when He declared that "there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies."

Satan's greatest lie is that there is NO difference between good and evil, that everything is relative, and the words good and evil are subjective in meaning. The Bible and the religion it projects are ridiculed because they teach there are "absolutes" and "imperatives" that condemn certain ideas and behaviors. When we are told that the difference between good and evil is nothing but prejudice and intolerance, we are hearing the voice of Satan. It is like what John saw in Rev. 13:11, "I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke as a dragon."

A part of Christian character concomitant to the one being discussed is discernment, the ability to see that good and evil are distinct and opposing forces in everything that moves and operates in the world about us. But there is more to it than just discernment; there is also the accompanying driving urge to embrace what is good and then support and promote it with all the force you can. And that is because we recognize that whatever is good comes from God. Love for God, reverence for God, and faith in God motivate us to exalt whatever comes from Him and then cling to it. This is why everyone who rejects the God of the Bible, who sent Christ here to save us, can never possess Christian character.

It is a character flaw to fail to discern the presence of evil in so much of life about us and carelessly accept it as just a part of our culture. There is a great mixture of evil from Satan in every part of con-temporary life that we have come to tolerate and even adopt as normative -- in lifestyle, speech, cloth-ing, entertainment, grooming, and even in the context of worship. This character flaw will continue until we become serious about what Rom. 12:9 demands of us, "Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good."

The Importance of Loveliness

Php. 4:8 ... "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

In recent articles the effort has been made to show that essential elements of good character (Christian character) are found in Php. 4:8. The first two, being truthful and being honorable, were emphasized in the two previous essays. The third and fourth in the series, devotion to what is right and exalting what is pure, have really already been featured in the exposition of Jesus' beatitudes in Mat. 5:3-12. Devotion to what is right is the same as Beatitude No. 4, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; and exalting what is pure is the same as Beatitude No. 6, "Blessed are the pure in heart." There is no need, therefore, to add anything further to these, although a great deal more could be said about each of them. Thus we shall proceed to the fifth thing presented in Php. 4:8, "Whatever is lovely."

The word thus translated from the original Greek text is prosphilê, which means "that which calls forth love." What is featured here is a quality in a person's life that induces others to love them. We all can think of someone whom it is very easy to love. There is something about them that makes you feel good in their presence and quickly wins your heart. Jesus saw that quality in unusual measure in the Apostle John, because four times in the Book of John this apostle is called "the one whom Jesus loved." The first is in John 19:26-27. As Jesus was being crucified, it says, "When (He) therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved, standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your Son!' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household."

Jesus loved all His apostles, as well as friends like Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany, in a special way. But there was something about John that called forth His love in an exceptional manner. That is what this character trait is -- loveliness -- a power within someone's personality that "calls forth" your love. You notice it quickly; you appreciate it greatly; and you start loving them.

To explain this power, it is tempting to produce a list of things that together "call forth your love": an habitually pleasant facial expression, frequent smiling, a pleasant disposition, being mild-mannered, being genuinely sympathetic, and being kind and polite. Several other qualities can be added to this list. A person who has them will win your heart easily and quickly; you will not even have to try. So it would be easy to say that the presence and combination of them is what "calls forth your love" and that the combined effect is what loveliness is.

But I don't think that is the case. Rather, what we see here is a single component of Christian character that produces the wonderful effect mentioned above. This elemental compoent is what the New Testa-ment calls prosphilê (loveliness). It is what produces a beautiful personality that "calls forth love" when you are with such a person. Let us not confuse the effects with the underlying cause; let us recognize that cause and learn to call it by its proper name, loveliness.

At birth God gives us certain special potentials that He does not give everyone, at least not in the same meausre. We call them "talents." They are inclinations and abilities to do something in a way better than others. For example, some people are born with musical talent. That does not mean that at age six they can sit down at a piano and play Beethoven, Mozart, and Brahms easily. But it does mean they can learn quickly, easily, and perfectly the skills that would enable them at an early age to play the music of the Masters like the Masters. A person without talent, with diligent effort, could learn to play them also. But they would never do it with the ease, the skill, and the grace of the person with real talent. The same is true with any talent ... art, athletics, eloquence, intelligence. Nearly anybody can be taught art, but their work will never hang in the Metropolitan Gallery in New York. Many youngsters become local stars in the various sports, but they never make the professional teams, or in most cases, even college sports. God does not give everyone the capacity to compose a symphony, paint a masterpiece with uni-versal appeal, set athletic records in the pros, rival the great orators, or win a name alongside Einstein in intelligence.

The reader may now think I have "gotten off track"; what does this have to do with loveliness? Well, here is the point: God grants the potential to be lovely to some people more than others; it is, therefore, a talent. Some people almost from birth display the attributes that "call forth love" in those about them. The rest of us have to work for it ... and work hard! I have been told that my usual facial expression is somewhat forbidding; I do not smile a lot of the time; some of my students said my disposition is stern; I do not think I'm good at being mild-mannered; I have to work to be sympathetic; I have to remind my-self to be kind, especially in stressful situations; and sometimes I suffer a lapse in politeness. So, I am reconciled to the fact that I was not born with the talent of loveliness. But that does not mean I cannot develop it to a level that will be acceptable to God. I just have to try! And that is the case with most who read this. So, indeed, let us make that effort, resolutely and consistently.                    

                                                                                                                                             [Character 17]

Character 16

Php. 4:8 ... "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."

In this statement eight essential attributes of good character, or more expressly, Christian character, are presented to us.  Although the word "character" is not mentioned in context, we are urged to "let your mind dwell on these things." What resides in a person's mind within determines the nature of his external life in mood, speech, conduct, and response to the fluctuations of daily experience. This is what we are told in Pro. 23:7, "As [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he." In the last article (Character 15) the first thing in this verse, truth, was featured and commended. In the present essay, the second thing, honorable, will be discussed and also commended to the reader.

The word in the original so translated is semnos, which may also be translated "dignified" or "serious." In the King James Version, it is rendered as "honest/" Although honesty is very much involved in the idea expressed, it is not the fundamental meaning. When the New Testament writers wished to deal with honesty, they used other words or phrases, such as "being truthful, speaking the truth, being sincere, and being just." The New American Standard and the Revised Standard translate the term as "honorable"; the NEB uses "worthy," and the translations of Goodspeed and Moffatt choose "noble." Basically, Php, 4:8 teaches us that, to set our minds upon whatever is dignified, has real merit, and is serious, in con-trast to what is silly or frivolous. What we are being told here is to lift our mind above the level of most people about us and elevate it to the plane of what is noble, worthy, and dignified.

Previously discussed has been the subject of "character flaws." These appear in situations where someone lacks a component of good character. Being dishonorable is such a character flaw. Not only is it prevalent, but it is actually capitalized upon in society. There are so many people who seem to be serious about nothing and let their minds run free toward anything that is trivial, meaningless, useless and inappropriate. Led by such people as the TV variety show hosts, they spin raw humor out of everything, trash public figures, and laugh at tragedy. They are not fit to listen to, and Christians ought to avoid them. 

The Bible often forbids this kind of dishonorable, undignified practice. In essence, it warns us about a character flaw and thus clears the way to plant a real trait of good character within us. We are instructed in Eph. 5:4 that "there must be no filthiness, silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting; but rather, [the] giving of thanks." Paul ordered Titus in his ministry in Crete to "urge the young men to be sen-sible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us," (Tit. 2:6-8). He was told to teach "women likewise [to] be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things." This character component of being honorable essentially means to say nothing that embarrasses others, disgraces yourself, or casts reproach upon your Lord. 

This does not mean we should be like the Puritans in early Colonial America who lived in fear that "someone, somewhere was actually having a good time." Eccl. 3:4 says that there is "a time to laugh." In fact, there are instances of humor to be found in the Bible. Being honorable allows occasional humor, but it excludes trivializing what is serious. Eccl. 3:4 also says there is "a time to weep." And Rom. 12:15 points out one of those times: "Weep with those who weep."

Character 15

Php. 4:8 ... "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."

This passage presents to us a set of eight mental dispositions that will develop genuine Christian character in anyone who will admit them into his personal psychology. In earlier articles in this series I have asserted that only Christ is the standard of good character, for He is the only person in the Bible to whom that word is applied, (Heb. 1:3). If space permitted, it would not be difficult to show that Jesus exemplified each quality in this set in His life. That is, in fact, the last thought expressed before these things were thus named: "And the God of peace, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus," (v.7).

There is something to be noticed in this statement that is very important:  It shows that the essence of character resides in your inner being, not in your outer being. The typical prescription for character development taught in public venues addresses the external features of a person. They present a formula of conduct that regulates outward behavior. Not only do they fall short because they ignore Christ, but also because they address only the surface of our human nature.  But the essence of a person is the inner self, and that means his mind and heart. Observe that the eight qualities presented in Php. 4:8 have a dual reference, first, they involve the mind and heart, and second, they involve one's union with Christ.

The first one named is TRUTH. To possess Christian character, a person must recognize truth, esteem truth, and commit himself to truth. This is the case with Jesus in a way that far exceeds even the best person among us, for He is equated with truth. He is the very embodiment of truth. This is what we are told in John 1:14, "The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." This declares that Jesus is "full of truth," and recall that Heb. 1:3 states that He is 'the exact representation of God's nature." This means that truth is a part of Jesus' character, because God is true. Of this we are assured in Heb. 6:18 which says that "it is impossible for God to lie." God is the essence of truth; He speaks nothing but truth; and all His actions are in perfect harmony with truth.

As the impression of God's nature into the baby born in Bethlehem was His character, the impression of Jesus into the life of a person is Christian character. And one great part of that impression is conformity to truth. Until Christ is admitted into a person's life, commitment to truth is not established within him. In the description of unregerate men in Rom. 3, it states that "their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving. The poison of asps is under their lips." In v.4 preceding it says, "Let God be true, though every man be found a liar." None of us want to think we don't look good, that what we say is silly, and that what we believe is wrong. So, we take care to compliment each other, approve each other, and agree with each other, even though our heart sees "the other" quite differently. It takes cour-age to speak only the truth. Actually, when a time comes that you cannot speak the truth because it would hurt too much, the proper thing to do is say nothing. It is not necessary always to give a reply.

A great part of Christian character is being truthful. That means to search for what is fundamentally true in everything, expel from your thinking whatever you find not true, and stand by the truth no matter what. Pro. 23:23 says it thus, "Buy truth and do not sell it. Get wisdom and instruction and understand-ing." Truth is pure gold, anything less is iron pyrite. Something false is often very popular and attract-ive, but in reality it has no value. I like what Anatole France (1844-1924, Nobel Prize in Literature) once said, "If 50 million people say something stupid, it's still stupid!" To be like Christ in character, always search for truth, incorporate it in your thinking, and cling to it though others may ridicule you for doing so.

Character 14

Mat. 5:10-12 ... "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

To be persecuted implies there is something you believe in that others reject, and when you refuse to give up your belief to please them, they make you suffer for it. Therefore, to have this component of good character, loyalty, there must be something you hold to be very important and very precious. And for Christians, that is, above all else, Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior. This final Beatitude extends the thought and meaning of the fourth in v.6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for right-eousness." In the essay in this series on it, it was stated that faith in Christ and obedience to His teach-ing results in Him conferring His righteousness upon you. A person who has Christian character will forfeit his life rather than compromise his faith or forsake obedience to Christ, because he puts first "the Kingdom of God and His righteousness," (Mat. 6:33). When you rank something first, everything else is second, third, or less in order. The fear of being persecuted is therefore of lower importance and persuasion than "the Kingdom of God and His righteousness," and the adamant Christian will submit to terrible treatment rather than deny them.

The history of Christianity has preserved a record of the fortitude of men and women who were so loyal to Christ that they submitted to horrible treatment rather than deny and desert allegiance to their Lord. They were beheaded, hung, burned at the stake, slain by gadiators or fed to wild animals before a multi-tude of blood-thirsty spectators. They are immortalized in the moving hymn, "Faith of Our Fathers," which is frequently sung in church assemblies. Though dedicated Christians are persecuted with cruel physical torment, or emotionally with demonizing ridicule, they will not give up their superior desire to praise Christ. Their commitment to please Him is far greater than the urge to please an ungodly society to escape its ire and brutality.

To abandon loyalty to Christ will quieten the ungodly multitude, but the reward is no greater than to be left alone and ignored. Jesus said that to stand resolute and immoveable against the sinful mass will lead you to a "reward in heaven (which) is great." That reward is depicted in Rev. 7:7-17. I urge you to turn to that passage and carefully read it, for space here will not admit its quotation. You, the reader, may then decide which reward is greater and more enduring, forsaking loyalty to Christ to avoid present persecution, or enjoying the beauty and bliss of heaven for eternity.

It is my observation that a great many "Christians" are not so loyal to Christ and yield to the pressure of an ungoldly society in countless particular attitudes, values, behavior and lifestyle. It seems obvious our real guiding principle is to be like the norm about us to fit in and not draw attention to ourselves. When "put on the spot" in some situation -- yield to pop culture to blend in, or oppose it to maintain loyaly to Christ and His model of mind and conduct -- so many of us chose the prevailing lifestyle. We may make this choice and harmonize with the ungoldy lifeview and behavior, but it betrays a character flaw. And, it costs us in more ways than we care to admit. It is very often true that there is so little difference between a "Christian" and the admittedly irreligious that they can hardly be differentiated. Would to God we had a change of heart and put loyalty to Christ first, even if it displeases others and riles society against us. 

Character 13

Mat. 5:9 ... "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called 'sons of God'."

In other articles in this series, we have seen that Jesus is the only model for best character, for the word "character" is used only one time in the New Testament, and then it is applied to Jesus, (Heb. 1:3). In this article, the emphasis is upon peace as an essential of true character, for it is exmplified in Christ. We are told in Isa. 9:6 that He is the Prince of Peace. His great work on earth was to establish peace between man and God, as well as peace between man and his fellow man. He taught His disciples to be peacemakers. When He sent them out on a tour of Galilee to proclaim His gospel, He told them, "What-ever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house'," (Luk. 10:5). In Rom. 12:18, all Christians are instructed, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." If peace cannot be estab-lished between a Christian and someone else, it should not be because the Christian has not gone to the limit in the effort to bring it about. A disciple of Christ must always be open to making peace, being ready and willing to put away tension and suspend the agitation that prevents peace.

There are people with whom it is not possible to achieve peace and maintain it.  They are intractible, suspicious of everyone's intentions, and seem to think anyone who approaches them is a threat. This is inplied in the words, "if possible," in Rom. 12:18. This writer once knew a man who attended church each Sunday and thought himself a Christian. But he criticized everyone, found fault with everyone, and was quick to argue with anger. He obviously had a character flaw and was detrimental to the local church's effort to project the spirit of Christ to the surrounding community. The good character of the many was compromised by the irrascible temper of this one person. When someone is of this nature, he is blind to Jesus' model, which features peace.

It is the mission of Christians to persuade people who are not disciples to discover in Jesus the best way of life in this world and the reward of life in heaven in eternity. The effort to persuade is not (speaking metaphorically) by "closing doors, building walls, and burning bridges" in relating to people about you. Such hostile and repulsive action will present a false image of Christ and turn people more completely away from Him and from the salvation of their souls. It is the goal of the genuine Christian to "open doors, dismantle walls, and build bridges" to gain friendly access to people about them. This is the Way of  Peace, the Way of Christ, and a large part of the essense of good character.