Character Moulding

Character Moulding

Moulding is necessary to fit into heaven 

The first step towards heaven is the first step of salvation when one repents of his sin and receives the LORD JESUS into his life. At that very point, he is justified in the eyes of the Almighty GOD because of CHRIST'S work of salvation that was completed on the cross. During the rest of his lifetime on earth, he goes through a process of sanctification. He has to be moulded into the image of the LORD JESUS to be fit for heaven. That is when we will be glorified with Him!

If you have set your heart on heaven, you also need to set your heart on enduring the moulding process. If you desire to be in heaven, you have to be willing to change. If you are looking forward to glorification, you have to understand and yield to the process of sanctification.

Unless all of us are changed before we reach heaven, heaven will not be heaven!

Understanding this process is necessary for us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, Who teaches us all things and helps us in every situation. 

The Heavenly Father is the Potter 

 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. 

Psalm 33:13-15 

 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
Jeremiah 18:1-4

https://youtu.be/TleYjvNqKGo

The role of the Holy Spirit during moulding 

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5 

It is important that the lump of clay is moist, soft and pliable while being moulded. It is the Holy Spirit who keeps us soft and instructs us in this process of moulding. Let us be sensitive to the gentle voice and promptings of the Holy Spirit and be yielded to Him. Then we will be changed quickly. Although it is a painful process, it becomes easier and quicker if we yield to the Holy Spirit and obey His promptings.

Suffering in the process of moulding 

Imagine a lump of clay being moulded and shaped in the hands of a potter. If that lump of clay could feel and speak, it would cry out in pain!

In the natural, the process of moulding is not pleasant, but painful and the natural reaction is to resist it. But if we understand the purpose for this moulding of character, we will be able to rejoice when it happens.

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 
James 1:1-4 


Many women bear much pain while going through beauty treatments. They yield themselves to willingly go through such physical discomfort and pain because they are looking forward to the outcome of becoming more beautiful physically! For them, the joy of looking more pretty is worth all the pain in the process of the treatment by the beautician! That is the example the LORD JESUS set for us to follow.

 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 

The painful process could be a difficult physical condition or sickness, emotional stress brought about by the death of a loved one or the sickness of a close relative, financial situation, issues at work and so on. Very often the moulding takes place through relationships. The weaknesses in the spouse is a good character moulding tool! It could also be a family member, a neighbour or a work mate who is difficult to get on with. Rather than hitting back at that individual, we should ask the LORD to teach us and mould us with patience and prayer. If we continue to do this diligently, we will be amazed at the outcome - in ourselves first, and then in due time, in the other person involved!!

When any opportunity is given to a group of little kids and they are asked, "Who wants to go first?" We often hear, "Me first" or "I want to go first." Very rarely do we hear one say, "Let him go first." Similarly, while handling difficult relationships, let our attitude be, 'Let me be the one to change first. Let me be moulded first!

The image of CHRIST 

The LORD JESUS is the perfect mould we need to be moulded into.

 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18

And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

1 Corinthians 15:49

During this process of moulding of character, our thinking will change, our values will change and our heart will change.

When we look beyond whatever difficult situation we might face or difficult people we may encounter, and focus our eyes on the LORD JESUS, we will become more like Him. If we don't let JESUS between yourself and the other individual, you will be moulded into the shape of the other individual! Anger in the other will bring out the anger which is in us. Pride will bring out the pride in us. Hatred will manifest the hatred in us. But if you let JESUS between anyone else and yourself, even difficult relationships will turn out to be profitable as you will get pushed towards Him, pressed against Him and will become like Him! This we do by asking the LORD to teach us during difficult times, yielding to the Holy Spirit and pray and intercede for the other person and bear with him in love without hitting back. Your attitude of love and patience will eventually bring about the change in the other individual as well!

Planed to perfection!

 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:10-11

 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' " Luke 3:4-6 

Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for the LORD'S first coming, let us be diligent to prepare for His second coming! JESUS, as a Carpenter, used a tool repeatedly over a piece of rough wood until it was perfectly planed and smooth. He Himself was perfect like a perfectly planed piece of wood! Yet He went through such suffering during His life on earth and then carried that rough wooden cross on His bruised and wounded shoulders. The skin on His back was unimaginably torn and shredded with the whipping, when He was laid on the coarse, rough beam of wood to be nailed to the cross. The cross was then raised up with Him nailed to it, and was dropped into the hole to make it stand upright. The LORD JESUS endured such excruciating pain for your sake and mine. Our wickedness is like that rough surface of that old rugged cross that hurt JESUS our LORD so much! Let us look to that cross, take up our cross and follow Him. Let every valley in us be filled and every mountain and hill brought low. Let the crooked places be made straight in our lives and rough ways made smooth. Then the glory of GOD will be seen in us and through us!