Character Types
Just as there are many animals in the jungle, so there are many “Character Types” in humanity. Some C.T.’s are good, some not so good. And this list is by no means complete . . .:
-- Thief – “What is yours is mine . . .” -- Con/Scam artist – “The more lies the merrier”.
-- Workaholic – These folks have to be moving and producing all the time.
-- Athlete – Much physical activity & energy for sports & competition.
-- The impulsive buyer - any salesman can spot these folks & sell them things they don't need or really want. They make purchases w/o hearing enough facts which becomes embarrassing later - w/losses.
-- Alcoholic/drug addict – It is said that every family has a person who falls victim to alcohol or drugs – and many of them just die.
-- Gambler – these folks cannot control their money, so it controls them.
-- Miser/hoarder – holding on to all things “tightly”.
-- The activist – These folks go after some society problem to the point of obsession to the cause.
-- The worry ward – always fearful about something to the point of paranoia. Not satisfied unless they find a problem issue to worry about.
-- The atheist – Focuses on numerous reasons/arguments why they think faith in the Biblical God is false. They can be intellectual & convincing like C. Darwin & S. Hawkins.
In Scripture there are some of the above types, but “boiling down” all of humanity, we see only two: The first Adam or “Jack of the dust”; the last Adam or Jesus Christ which is the character type from heaven. “Thus, it is written, the first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit … The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:45,47 According to Bible scholars, the 1st Adam is the fountain of sin and death, he began the natural character type which is isolated from God’s blessing (Ephesians 4:17-18). The second Adam is the fountain of righteousness and life. Those who follow the “second Adam” are blessed & move upward toward a better destiny. “whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst: the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus Christ John 4:14
Now we live in a world of many religions and religious leaders. Jesus the Christ is the only one that rose from the dead to prove all His teachings & claims. (This G-note is written on Easter Sunday, March ’17) And the New Testament is generous enough to EXPLAIN how Jesus is the second or last Adam character type. It also explains in great detail the work & functions of Jesus as our advocate, mediator, & priest. Then it explains how we all need to connect with Him before we go out into eternity “naked”, without the “robe” of God’s only authorized salvation. (See “Rude Surprises” link 79). “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him”. Hebrews 2:3
There is an old nursery rhyme that I find interesting:
Jack and Jill went up the hill, To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.
This may speak of the original man (Adam) pursuing good things, but stumbles with temptation taking all others down with him. Scripture says we are all fallen creatures –“all have sinned & come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 The second Adam makes it easy for us all, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus Christ John 8:12
To finish I simply ask, are you a Jack or Jill of the lower “dust”, or are you a Jack of the higher “dust”? “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also (let us) bear the image of the man of heaven”. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Choose Jesus, He is Alive. See also “Gifts & Rifts”, link 90 for another look at human character.
Many other interesting titles: www.gospelnotes.org * * F. J. Stone * *
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