Yesterday, I was in the office of our local newspaper and while I was waiting I looked at some of the old newspapers posted on the wall. One of them, dated August 21st, 1868, had a list of sayings that readers were encouraged to review every day,

One of these was, I thought, especially good. It read, “Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts.”

Ponder that quote a bit and let it sink in. If the point being made here is true – and I believe it is – it should affect our lives in a number of ways.

First, it should cause you to be much less apt to blame others for what’s wrong with your life. How quick we can be to fault others with what’s amiss in our lives. As the Bible teaches us, we need to pay more attention to the log that is in our own eye than the speck that’s in our brothers (Mt.7:3,4).

Second, if you are responsible for your character, it should make you care less about what others have to say about you and more about how you appear before God. If there are those who speak falsehoods about you, it should not consume you, because over time the truth will come to light. Instead, give your attention to live according to what you know is true, right, and good.

Third, knowing that you are the only one that can affect your character should encourage you to pay more attention to its development. In the long run, the course of our lives is determined by our character. Appearance may carry you for a while, but it will only take you so far. It’s good character that will take you as far as you can go. And you are the one that determines your character.

The problem in pondering all this is that we are all well aware that our characters are flawed. There are past sins, stubborn habits, and recurring weaknesses that remind us that our characters are not what they could and should be. What do we do then?

This is where the message of the gospel is such a blessed hope, because it picks us up not where we should be, but where we are. Due to past follies, and an awareness of a deficient character, your conscience is quick to accuse you. But, “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom.8:1).

“If we confess ours sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness” (1 Jn.1:9)

This provides you a fresh start and a place to stand. But don’t stop there. Having received the grace of God, now live in it. Don’t go back to the old ways, but walk in those that will allow you to keep a good conscience before God and man.

With the promises God gives us, we are to cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor.7:1).

The goodness of God’s grace is not only that it remedies our past follies, but it enables us to move beyond them.