CHARACTER By Samuel Peters

The great wall of China is a series of fortification made of stone, bricks, tamped earth, wood, and other materials generally built along East to West line across the historical Northern boarders of China to protect the Chinese states from raid and invasion. The walls were built as early as the 7^th century B C, joined together, made bigger and stronger by Qin Shi Huang, (the first Emperor of China)

The great wall had, at its day enhanced defensive characteristics such as watch towers, troop barracks and garrison stations. Within the next hundred years of completion, china was invaded three times because the guards were bribed. Babylon was like the America of today, a world power in its day, strong economically, agriculturally, and most secured kingdom in its days, but Babylon was invaded and defeated by a lesser kingdom, Persia, because Babylonian soldiers and guards were careless and lazy so they slept off. Persia did not need to kill or fight any one to conquer Babylon.

My concern is why these big states and nations were conquered with so much ease, why do strong walls fall with less effort? I have come to discover that these nations spent time and effort building structure and Empires but they failed to build the most important structure which is their people. They built strong, powerful walls and cities with people of questionable character and so the people betrayed their cities. Let me bring it home as we strive to fulfill purpose, destiny, become great, achieve our goals, we get so engrossed in it that we fail to develop our personal character and attitude.

So like china and Babylon, our ill character or attitude may betray us and bring us down. Hard work, skill and diligent works will make us great and successful but sustaining it requires sound character and attitude.

Negative character can be hidden for long but I bet you at the point of greatness, they are the foxes that will spoil your vine.

In conclusion, one may want to ask, how can I identify a negative character or how can a person fix on bad character? My solution is simple:

STEP ONE: To identify fault in your character, you can use these check list.
<ul>
<li>What do I think is wrong about me?</li>
<li>What do I think is good about me?</li>
<li>What do people hate and complain about me?</li>
<li>What do people like and commend about me?</li>
<li>What are my strength and weakness?</li>
</ul>
Answers these check list yourself and then ask at least five random persons around you.

STEP 2: Gather and cumulate the responds then fix them in a table.

ROMANS 13 V.S 12
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" width="638">Put off                                                                                                           Put on

Negative                                                                                                      Positive

Abstain                                                                                                         Engage</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Anger</td>
<td width="319">Peace</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Pride</td>
<td width="319">Humility</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Disobedience</td>
<td width="319">Obedience</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Procrastination</td>
<td width="319">Timely</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="319">Drunkenness

Gluttony</td>
<td width="319">Self control</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
STEP 3:

After you have done these as it is stated in the bible, you abstain from the negative and engage in these positive.

Note: it is a process, not a day job i.e. we continually striving to develop and maintain a positive character.

Finally, the evil habits, character, or attitude you don’t deal with will someday ruin your great wall.