Too Many Engineers

One of the worst train disasters in history occurred in the El Toro Tunnel in Leon,
Spain, on January 3, 1944. More than five-hundred people died on this tragic
day.
The train was one of those long passenger trains with an engine on both ends.

On this particular day, when the trains went into the El Toro tunnel, the engine in
the front stalled. When the front engine stopped, the engineer on the back d up
his engine to back the train out of the tunnel. At the same time, however, the
front engineer managed to get his engine started back up and attempted to
continue the journey through the tunnel. Now, neither engineer had any way of
communicating with the other. Both engineers thought they simply needed
more power. They continued to pull in both directions for several minutes at full
steam. Hundreds of passengers on the train died in the tunnel because of carbon
monoxide poisoning all because the train could not make up its mind which way
to go!
The people on that train died because the train had one too many engineers.
Many of us struggle as to which direction our lives ought to go whether to come
to Jesus or remain in sin. Jesus wants us to go in one direction, but we are at the
back of the train pulling in another direction. There are even times when we think
we can have it both ways. Jesus warned us that we can't have it both ways in
Matthew 6:24... "no man can serve two masters. "
There is good news for us brothers and sisters, we only have one master to follow
and that is God.
CHRIST, OUR VICTORY IN DEVELOPINH OUR SPIRITUAL CHARACTER
Psalm 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.
David was in deep trouble at this time, he did not have the moral stamina,
nor the courage to forsake and confess his sins but when confronted by Nathan
the prophet and told him that the Lord knew what he had done. In this passage
we see David acknowledging his sins and praying for forgiveness. David
showed a strong character that is acknowledging that he is sinner. There is
personal accountability.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!
Living under the grace of Jesus provides us a huge opportunity to grow
spiritually stronger and deeper.
Paul talked about character forming. He emphasizes spiritual maturity
reflected in our spiritual character.
We can fake our character, put on a mask, but we can never fake our
character before god. It is who we are before God.
Christian character is a growth process. Development starts with union
with Christ demonstrated in a life controlled by Christ. There is no shortcut in
developing our character.
 CHARACTER- s defined as strength of moral fiber. A.W. Tozer described
character as the excellence of moral beings. As the excellence of gold is its
purity and the excellence of art is its beauty, so the excellence of man is his
character.
WHY IS CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IMPORTANT? No matter how well
versed we are with the Bible, no matter how much we know of our doctrines and
teachings, if our character is not transformed, everything we know and have
learned is in vain.
CREDIBILITY GAP
1. We have people behind driving expensive cars but are lonely and
insecure
2. We have built nice houses but have not established strong foundation of
our home
3. We have the fastest means of communications but we have no time to
talk with God
4. We have reached outer space but not inner space
5. We have mastered the verse love one another but there are more
conflicts and we fight one another
6. We used expensive gadgets and technology to make us beautiful but we
have polluted our souls
7. We have adopted the most fashionable dress to make ourselves
attractive but failed compassion to attract souls for Christ
8. We spent so much, exercised so much, but failed to spend more time
and cross more streets to meet our neighbor
9. We believe in the urgent call to preach the gospel but most of the
time, we preach the gossip
10. We have discovered medicines to improve our heights but failed to
shape our personality
CHARACTER REPUTATION
the mental and moral qualities overall quality or character as seen or
distinctive to an individual judged by people in general
what you really are what others think you are.
specific qualities of an individual the opinion of others regarding a
particular individual.

CHARACTER IS NON NEGOTIABLE (Christ Object Lesson page 330)

- The Lord has a great work to be done, and He will bequeath the most in
the future life to those who do the most faithful, willing service in the
present life. The Lord chooses His own agents, and each day under
different circumstances He gives them a trial in His plan of operation.
In each true-hearted endeavor to work out His plan, He chooses His
agents not because they are perfect but because, through a connection
with Him, they may gain perfection.
- God will accept only those who are determined to aim high. He places
every human agent under obligation to do his best. Moral perfection is
required of all. Never should we lower the standard of righteousness in
 order to accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong-
doing. We need to understand that imperfection of character is sin. All
righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious
whole, and every one who receives Christ as a personal Saviour is
privileged to possess these attributes.
- And those who would be workers together with God must strive for
perfection of every organ of the body and quality of the mind. True
education is the preparation of the physical, mental, and moral powers
for the performance of every duty; it is the training of body, mind, and
soul for divine service. This is the education that will endure unto
eternal life.
- Of every Christian the Lord requires growth in efficiency and capability
in every line. Christ has paid us our wages, even His own blood and
suffering, to secure

TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH Vol 2 page 453

They will not come to the light, lest their deeds should be reproved. Such will not
be taught. But the Lord reproves and corrects the people who profess to keep His
law. He points out their sins and lays open their iniquity because He wishes to
separate all sin and wickedness from them, that they may perfect holiness in His
fear and be prepared to die in the Lord or to be translated to heaven. God
rebukes, reproves, and corrects them, that they may be refined, sanctified,
elevated, and finally exalted to His own throne.2T 452.2
Elder Fuller has heard the testimony borne in public, that the professed people
of God were not all holy, that some were corrupt. God sought to elevate them, but
they refused to come up upon a high plane of action. The corrupt animal passions
bore sway, and the moral and intellectual powers were overborne and made their
servants. Those who do not control their base passions cannot appreciate the
atonement or place a right value upon the soul. Salvation is not experienced or
understood by them. The gratification of animal passion is the highest ambition
of their lives. God will accept nothing but purity and holiness; one spot, one
wrinkle, one defect in the character, will forever debar them from heaven, with all
its glories and treasures. 2T 453.1
Ample provisions have been made for all who sincerely, earnestly, and
thoughtfully set about the work of perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Strength, grace, and glory have been provided through Christ, to be brought by
ministering angels to the heirs of salvation. None are so low, so corrupt and vile,
that they cannot find in Jesus, who died for them, strength, purity, and
righteousness, if they will put away their sins, cease their course of iniquity, and
turn with full purpose of heart to the living God. He is waiting to strip them of
their garments, stained and polluted by sin, and to put upon them the white,
bright robes of righteousness; and He bids them live and not die. In Him they
may flourish. Their branches 2T 453.2

Our character is beyond career. God loves sinners but he will not tolerate
sin
GODS HIGHEST AIM- Godlikeness is the goal to be reached
BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT- like a baby
STEPS IN FORMING OUR CHARACTER
1. Accept and trust Jesus
2. Grow in Gods grace
3. Grow in moral: knowing to think Christianly
Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them
that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
HOW POSSIBLE IS IT THROUGH CHRIST
- Christ did something for our character at the cross
1 Cor. 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to
us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1. Christ emptied the cross
2. Christ emptied the tomb

- Christ is an overcomer, he wants us to be an overcomer too.

WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TO WHAT HE HAS DONE?