Choices determine character — here and there — slapped me in the face this morning. In the midst of radical change, I’m struck by how I got here. Uprooting and moving a thousand miles to somewhere you’ve never lived before seems like a good idea. I call it anti-Alzheimer’s training—very intensive.

As I commonly do, for the past few years, I started my study this morning by reading a little Follette. I love the way his mind works. And, the accumulated wisdom of maturity he shares.

We are standing here, and we are the sum total of all the choices and decisions we have made in our lives. They have all registered, and this is the composition of our character. We live in our wills.
Follette, John Wright. John Wright Follette’s Golden Grain (Signpost Series Book 2) (p. 23)

Choices determine character on earth and in heaven

We forget, when speaking about heaven, that so many of the things which are for us in the ages yet to come, after this life has been lived, and we as a conscious entity, a spirit released from the body, and moving in the new resurrection body, in a new spiritual realm, most of the things that we have on that other shore—over there in the ages—are DETERMINED HERE.
Follette, John Wright. John Wright Follette’s Golden Grain (Signpost Series Book 2) (p. 23). 

I know! He’s as wordy as Paul, upon occasion. But, what a revelation he shares. Maybe it’s old hat to you. Yet, this truth shone forth and hit me this morning. I’ve read it before. But the Holy Spirit quickened it my spirit today.

This goes far beyond “you are what you eat”.  We see that the truth becomes our choices determine our character. I can comprehend that clearly. And, after 74 years,  I know that both my bad decisions and the wise have made me who I am.

Hopefully the bad do not dominate the good

Before we know the Lord, they are all bad—by definition. Only God is good. So choices made outside of Him, by ourselves, will overwhelmingly be terrible.  But, I’ve known the Lord for 44 years now. Thankfully, God can make everything work for good for those who love Him! However, surely things have gotten better?

Sadly, I have to report, I continued to make many bad decisions after I met Jesus. I didn’t begin to truly understand the horror of me—as opposed to the glory of Him—until quite recently.

Jesus Himself, while living within the restrictions of His human body, clearly told us that He was not good. Only the Father is good. Luke 18:17-19

He understood that the human mind does not have access to know enough to determine good and evil. This shows the true temptation of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil. Jesus told us, in several places, that good occurs in our lives as we hear the Lord and obey. John Follette continues in his little teaching:

Right here and now, we are making the decisions; the choices; the surrenders; the outpourings of life. We are doing that HERE, and THAT WILL DETERMINE what we will have over there.
Follette, John Wright. John Wright Follette’s Golden Grain (Signpost Series Book 2) (p. 24).

I pray that you and I are given the grace to make this understanding the core of our walk in the Spirit. This shows the way to fruitfulness. Only in this manner can we become who we were designed to be. This shows us how to find fulfillment and satisfaction. We can only find that in Him, following in obedience.

How does this affect who we are in heaven?

Life is too short for us to put into manifestation much that we would choose. Even with a good choice, life is too short for it. But I tell you one thing, life is long enough so that when Truth is presented, and there is an occasion for us to make a decision; or a surrender; or die a death; or accept a Truth—right here is where we do it, but the fruitage, the real fruitage of it, won’t always be seen here. We aren’t here long enough; the real fruitage will be projected in the things yet to come.
Follette, John Wright. John Wright Follette’s Golden Grain (Signpost Series Book 2) (p. 24). 

What an eye-opening thought which we should ponder. In the parable of the talents, Jesus didn’t award crowns, medals, or give prizes to those who were faithful, good stewards of the talents. He said you’ve been faithful in little, I’ll trust you with much. In Luke he says in the parable about the pounds, Your faithfulness made me ten pounds, I’ll put you over ten cities. The basic principle becomes a little faithfulness here gives us greater responsibility there.

So, choices determine character which determines our tasks in the Kingdom

We have to earn our crowns. Jesus gives us opportunities to die to our old self so that we can be fruitful. here’s a final quote from John:

CROWNS ARE WON! We EARN THEM—they are not souvenirs. Crowns are symbolic of certain authority and power which we merit and earn while we are here. It is here that we make our decisions, and certain surrenders. We have to die to a lot of things that nearly kill us—they SHOULD kill us! The trouble is we don’t die. We say, “It nearly killed me.” It is supposed to kill us . . . so we will learn.
Follette, John Wright. John Wright Follette’s Golden Grain (Signpost Series Book 2) (p. 26).

Here we see the reality of the long, painful process of sanctification. but as we read in Hebrews 12, later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness!

Yes, choices determine character—ain’t it wunnerful?

How many characters do you know? 😜