How One's Character is Determined

HOW ONE'S CHARACTER IS DETERMINED
By Duane V. Maxey

       I just read the following in the July 28 entry of "The King's Allowance," a Daily Devotional by George Brubaker Kulp; ALL CAPS mine:

       "A barrel that is filled with flour is a flour barrel. MAN'S CHARACTER IS DETERMINED BY WHAT HE HOLDS WILLINGLY."

       Gen. 6:13 speaks of being "Filled with Violence." When one is thus filled, his character cannot, at the same time, be "A Man of Peace."

       Genesis 26:15 tells of wells "Filled with Earth" by the Philistines. When the heart of a man is "Filled with Earth," his character is "of the earth, earthy" (1 Corinthians 15:47). And, "the things of God knoweth no man" with that character! (1 Corinthians 2:11)!

       Exodus 16:3 Israel complained, "In the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when We Did Eat Bread To The Full"; and in 16:12 God promised them manna, and said, "in the morning ye shall be filled with bread," and Nehemiah 9:25 tells us that Israel "took strong cities, and a fat land" . . . and "They Did Eat, And Were Filled." While God supplies our need of earthly bread, he is not a true Christian who is contented with being "a Professional Connoisseur" whose greatest delight is to taste "fine foods" and fill men's bellies! "Whose God . . is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, and who mind earthly things." (cf. Philippians 3:19)

       Deuteronomy 31:20 tells of how backslidden Israel "Filled Themselves." When a man is "Filled with Self," he cannot, at the same time, be filled with Holy and Humble Godliness!

       Leviticus 19:29 says that Israel became "Full of Wickedness." It is not hard to Identify that character in a person.

       In Numbers 22:18 Balaam declared: "If Balak would give me his house Full of Silver and Gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more." But in fact, "Balaam Had A Price." 2 Peter 2:15 says he "loved the wages of unrighteousness;" Jude 1:11 tells us that later he "ran greedily . . for reward.." And, Revelation 2:14 more precisely explains that Balaam "taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel." Thus, desiring "silver and gold," he "perished in the gainsaying of Core."

       Deuteronomy 6:11 tells us that in conquering Canaan, Israel had received houses "Full of All Good Things," for which they had not labored.  When professed Christians obtain an abundance of "Things," often their character once again becomes "Earth-Centered."

       Thus, Jesus warned, his followers in Luke 12:15: "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for A Man's Life Consisteth Not in the Abundance of the Things which he possesseth." Thus also, some backsliders when reclaimed, testify like Naomi in Ruth 1:21 -- "I WENT OUT FULL, and the Lord hath BROUGHT ME HOME AGAIN EMPTY!  Spiritual Fillings are always preceded by An Emptying of whatever evil things one has willingly held within.

       When Elisha in Gilgal "set on the great pot" "for the sons of the prophets.. one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof WILD GOURDS HIS LAP FULL, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage." But "as they were eating of the pottage, they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is DEATH IN THE POT! It took a Divine miracle before there was again "no harm in the pot." (2 Kings 4:38-41) And TODAY also it takes a Divine Miracle to deliver those who are willingly FILLED WITH THE POISON OF WILDNESS! Like Wild, Unbroken Colts that have never been broken, they have never been tamed.

       But Christ can easily perform such a miracle. Prior to His Triumphal Entry, He told his disciples to bring him "a colt whereon never man sat" (Mark 11:2). But Jesus miraculously took all of the Wild Bucking Spirit out of him! and rode him peacefully into the city!

       And, You Know What! I doubt if that colt EVER BUCKED AGAIN!

       Speaking of that Divinely Tamed Colt, Bible readers know how God used Balaam's ass, but sadly he persisted in his disobedience, and died in his sins:--"Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them" (Joshua 13:22).

       Happily however, Christ CAN and DOES take the wild and evil nature out of penitent sinners, and FILLS THEM AFRESH WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT! -- fit for His Service, and fit to be admitted into Heaven!