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The Work of a Lifetime, September 20
Perfection of Character
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
The formation of a right character is the work of a lifetime, and is
the outgrowth of prayerful meditation united with a grand purpose. The
excellence of character that you possess must be the result of your own
effort. Friends may encourage you, but they cannot do the work for you.
Wishing, sighing, dreaming, will never make you great or good. You
must climb.
The conversation we have by the fireside, the books we read, the
business we transact, are all agents in forming our characters, and day
by day decide our eternal destiny.
Mental ability and genius are not character, for these are often pos-
sessed by those who have the very opposite of a good character. Repu-
tation is not character. True character is a quality of the soul, revealing
itself in the conduct.
A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only trea-
sure that we can take from this world to the next. Those who are under
the instruction of Christ in this world will take every divine attainment
with them to the heavenly mansions. And in heaven we are continually
to improve.
A good character is a capital of more value than gold or silver. It is
unaffected by panics or failures, and in that day when earthly possessions
shall be swept away, it will bring rich returns. Integrity, firmness, and
perseverance are qualities that all should seek earnestly to cultivate; for
they clothe the possessor with a power which is irresistible—a power
which makes him strong to do good, strong to resist evil, strong to bear
adversity.
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