p. 262 | THE FORMATION OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 22, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 17

THE FORMATION OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.

By F. C. Oviatt

BY F. C. OVIATT.

To be a Christian is to be Christ-like,—to possess character bearing some resemblance to that of our Lord. By studying his life we learn of his character, and by following his example, a similar one may be formed. It is close, self-denying work to follow the example of our Saviour in all the little affairs of life,—to yield cheerfully the better position, to always regard the rights and feelings of others, and to willingly forego one's own convenience and gratification. Before we can attain to this standard, we must realize our own selfishness, and learn to sink out of self into Christ.

The water that freezes drop by drop forms the icicle, which is bright and transparent, or dark and filthy, according as the water is clean or impure. And in very much the same way our characters are forming by the impressions that come to us one by one. If the emotions that we cherish are pure and right, what soul-beauty will be the result! If impure and wrong, what grief and wretchedness! What carefulness is required of us, if we would have a passport through the pearly gates!

Let us not think too much of the sacrifices we make. “The kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” “For joy thereof!” His heart is so filled with gladness that he never minds the cost. So will it be with the man who has a right idea of the value of Christian character. And what an influence he will have over others; for “there is a preaching of the truth, a proclaiming of the gospel of Christ, besides that which is listened to from the pulpit; and there is an eloquence without words, which enters deep into the soul. It is the preaching and the eloquence of a godly life; for upon this depends, to an extent beyond what we often realize, ‘the glory of God, the honor of his cause, and the salvation of men.’”

As officers and teachers in the Sabbath school, and as parents, we should remember that example tells more than precept on the characters we are helping to form. Will our influence help to make these characters pure and spotless? or by words and acts of ours will they be made vile and unclean? The great Exemplar will soon come. Will he find in us and in our children any resemblance to his own holy character?

Let us keep the true object of the Sabbath-school in view, and make it truly a nursery of the church, where characters may be formed for the courts of Heaven.

Wellsville, N. Y.