The opposite of faithfulness is treachery. The American culture is distinguished today by a lack of faithfulness, of truth, of integrity. Each person seeks his or her own advantage. The name of the Lord Jesus is Faithful and True. Apart from faithfulness, from integrity, from truth, we can have no fellowship with Christ. He looks straight at us with His eyes of fire and our deviousness is revealed.

There is no foolishness in the angels of God who excel in strength, who do His will. We have no place with God or His angels until we think straight, talk straight, and act straight. There is no substitute for absolute sincerity no matter how religious we think we may be.

The opposite of gentleness is roughness and forcefulness. There is altogether too much pushing and manipulating in the Christian churches. The way of Jesus Christ is the "way of the Lamb." It is the way of quiet respect, of teachableness, of meekness. God's true people walk in iron righteousness, fiery holiness, and stern obedience to the Father. Their path is straight and immense power walks with them. For all of this they are gentle and easy to be entreated, just like the Spirit who is their Life.

Those who decide to "take the Kingdom" by roughness and forcefulness will find they receive roughness and forcefulness in return.

The opposite of self-control is abandonment to the impulses of one's flesh, soul, and carnal mind. Whenever we say or do anything of which we ourselves do not approve, we have lost control of ourselves. Fear or group pressure may cause us to act in a manner of which we do not approve.

Jesus Christ is never out of control. God is never out of control. God does not want His sons to be held captive by any power, mood, or desire. We are not free spiritually until we are doing what we know to be God's will.

The place of greatest love, joy, and peace is found when our most intense desire is God's most intense desire for us. No other condition can compare in desirability with this.

But while we are seeking to attain the rest of God, in which our will is God's will, we may experience many mistakes, false starts, and frequent denials of our desires. We absolutely must have resolute courage and a willingness to keep on going, keep on going, keep on going until the very end.

How utterly marvelous to leave this earth and be able to say to God, "I have finished the work You gave me to do. Here it is, all wrapped up as a package, tied with a bow."

How incredibly wonderful to know beyond doubt that God's will is identical with our will and He is pleased with us.

How unbelievably glorious upon entering the spirit realm to realize we are finally home, that we did not fail in the test. We may have stumbled many times, but we got up again, like a soldier, and pressed forward, trusting in God to forgive and help us. God loves this attitude.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (II Timothy 4:7,8—NIV) (from The Fruit of the Spirit)