under provocation, being calm, gentle, self-possessed, trusting in the Lord]; and to temperance patience [which means cheerful endurance, no matter how fiery the trials are; to endure cheerfully because it is pleasing to the Lord and because it makes a strong character]; and to patience godliness [which means to grow in the likeness of the Lord, with piety, purity]; and to godliness brotherly kindness [which means that kind and loving disposition that exists and should exist between those who are really brothers]; and to brotherly kindness charity,” or love which means an unselfish desire to do good and doing good to others even at a sacrifice to ourselves.—­2 Peter 1:5-7.

[487]When we recognize that the course of the world is exactly opposite to this, we may know it requires a warfare, a constant vigilance, and the subjection to persecution because of misunderstanding.  But if we do these things, we shall make our calling and election sure.  The Apostle puts it thus:  “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".—­2 Peter 1:10,11.

[488]While thus undergoing development, the new creature finds that he has to war against the downward tendencies of his own fleshly disposition, against the spirit of the world, and against Satan’s machinations through various instruments.  But this warfare is what makes him strong.  It is not a warfare with carnal weapons.  It is the power of God working in him to war against these enemies, and it is mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds of wrong. (2 Corinthians 10:4) It is the great hope of an entrance into the kingdom that enables him, by the Lord’s grace, to battle steadfastly for the right.  St. John states:  “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure”. (1 John 3:3) These fiery trials through which the Christian passes have the same effect upon him that a fire has upon metal.  It burns up the dross and refines the gold.  It has a cleansing effect; and also for this reason the Lord permits it.

[489]God foreordained that all the members of the new creation should be made in the likeness of his beloved Son. (Romans 8:29) This does not take place by meditating upon wrongful things, but by resisting these and keeping the mind upon heavenly things.  The Christian now has his face unveiled; that is, he is enabled by his mental vision to understand the things of God’s Word, and when he looks into the Word, the Bible, he sees reflected from that Word the character-likeness of the Lord; and having the Lord’s spirit in him, he is being transformed from one degree of glory to another.  The apostle Paul puts it thus:  “We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord”. (2 Corinthians 3:18) The pathway of the Christian is not strewn with flowers or ease or comfort, but as Jesus said, it is a narrow way and few there be that walk in it.—­Matthew 7:14.