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Why we need Christians with character not 'church clones'!
Many potential converts are concerned that if they become a Christian they will almost become a cloned or brainwashed believer. However we need not concern ourselves with personality tests, but our character must conform to the likeness of Jesus our Messiah.
We as believers in Jesus the Son of God, are in the Lord's army and part of the body, but we are not part of the clone army from star wars - we can retain our personality but our character requires further work, regardless of where we are in our walk with Him.
When we talk about character we often mean very different things. However the Biblical definition of character means PROOF OF GENUINENESS, TRUSTWORTHINESS, ACCEPTABLE, APPROVED, EXPERIENCE, TRIED. (Strongs 1382)
Hence Romans 5v3-4 says 'And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance character; and character, hope.
and Paul commends Timothy's character in Phillipians 2v20-22 'For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Jesus Christ. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served me in the gospel.'
We are also called to imitate Jesus in our character.
Eph 5v1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children...
1 Cor 11v1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ...
3 John v11 do not imitate what is evil, but what is good...
To examine God's character we could analyse the fruits of the Spirit or read through Scripture. However we can also look at Ezekiel's vision of God in Chp 1.
Ezekiel was about thirty years of age when he was in exile by the River Chebar, which is about seventy miles east of Babylon, or what we now recognise as modern-day Iraq. Ezekiel had a vision of God in which He was surrounded by four angelic beings with four faces. Each had a face of a man on the front, the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left and the face of an eagle at the rear. Wherever the Spirit wanted to go the creatures went, because there the Spirit went.
SO WHAT DO THE FOUR CREATURES REPRESENT?
The four creatures represent four aspects of the character of Jesus and also the four gospels. The man is the pinnacle of God's creation. Remember Adam was given dominion over the rest of creation. However Jesus the last Adam is the only perfect, sinless God-Man. The lion is the greatest of the wild beasts, the ox the greatest of domesticated animals and the eagle the greatest of bird life.
The lion represents Jesus Kingship, soveriegnty, majesty, royalty, invincibility. In Genesis 49v9-11 Jesus is prophesied as the Lion Of Judah (see also Rev 5v5)
Generally speaking lions consistently denote kingship (see Ezekiel 19v1-9 which was a lamentation for the PRINCES of Israel. Furthermore the lion represents Matthew's Gospel concerning the long awaited arrival of the Jewish Messiah, the Son Of David, who will also reign in the Messianic Kingdom!
The ox represents Jesus humility, servanthood, loadbearing and sacrificial service. Mark 10 v45 encapsulates the whole of that Gospel in that 'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.'
The man represents how Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life in all holiness and we need to live sanctified lives. Although our salvation is assured, sanctification is an on-going process until we are glorified with Him. A verse that would summarise Luke well would be Luke 19v10 'For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.'
The eagle represents the deity of Christ as the SON OF GOD and also the Spirit. (see Isaiah 40v31) The eagle also represents John's gospel. John's Gospel goes to great lengths to stress Jesus equality with His Father and in addition to Jesus confirming that before Abraham was I AM (John 8V58 see- Ex 3v14 too!) There are seven other I AM statements in John's Gospel. (John 6v35, 8v12, 10v9,11, 11v25, 14v6, 15v1)
So where is the application? Do we want our character to conform to the image of Jesus our Messiah? If so then where are the lions - those who are bold in their proclamation of the Gospel, who recognise their authority as adopted sons and daughters of the King? Where are the oxes? Those who would be willingly yoked to the Son of God, whose yoke is easy and burden is light. Are we willing to live and serve for His service? Where are the men. The men living lives of purity befitting His glory - if that were possible. Are we being washed by the word and are we intent on living sanctified lives? And finally where are the eagles who live according to the Spirit, who are saturated in Scripture because the same is inspired by the Spirit and of no private interpretation?
I speak for myself here!!! Maybe you are a bold lion but you don't want to be a humble ox? Maybe you're a hardworking quiet ox but you're reluctant to boldly proclaim the truth under His authority. Maybe you are living a life of purity but you're neglecting prayer and scripture? Maybe you're full of Scripture but you don't want to serve as a lowly ox?
We obviously all have particular giftings but our character must conform to Christ and should be evidenced in the outworking of our faith!
Amen! |
