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Messages to Young People
The Measure of Strength
Strength of character consists of two things,—power of will, and
power of self-control. Many youth mistake strong, uncontrolled pas-
sion for strength of character; but the truth is that he who is mastered
by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness and nobility of the
man is measured by his power to subdue his feelings, not by the power
of his feelings to subdue him. The strongest man is he, who, while
sensitive to abuse, will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies.
God has given us intellectual and moral power; but to a great extent
every one is the architect of his own character. Every day the structure
more nearly approaches completion. The word of God warns us to
take heed how we build, to see that our building is founded upon the
eternal rock. The time is coming when our work will stand revealed
just as it is. Now is the time for all to cultivate the powers that God
has given them, that they may form characters for usefulness here and
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for a higher life hereafter.
Faith in Christ as a personal Saviour will give strength and solidity
to the character. Those who have genuine faith in Christ will be sober-
minded, remembering that God’s eye is upon them, that the Judge
of all men is weighing moral worth, that heavenly intelligences are
watching to see what manner of character is being developed.
The reason that so grave mistakes are made by the youth is that
they do not learn from the experience of those who have lived longer
than they have. Students cannot afford to pass off with jest or ridicule
the cautions and instruction of parents and teachers. They should
cherish every lesson, realizing at the same time their need of deeper
teaching than any human being can give. When Christ abides in the
heart by faith, His Spirit becomes a power to purify and vivify the soul.
The truth in the heart cannot fail of having a correcting influence upon
the life....
Let those students who are away from their homes, no longer under
the direct influence of their parents, remember that the eye of their
Heavenly Father is upon them. He loves the youth. He knows their
necessities, He understands their temptations. He sees in them great
possibilities, and is ready to help them to reach the highest standard, if
they will realize their need and seek Him for help.