When Christ shall come, our vile bodies are to be changed

When Christ shall come, our vile bodies are to be changed, and made like
his glorious body; but the vile character will not be made holy then.
The transformation of character must take place before his coming.  Our
natures must be pure and holy; we must have the mind of Christ, that he
may behold with pleasure his image reflected upon our souls.  We are
none of us what God would have us, and what we may be, and what his word
requires us to be.  It is our unbelief that shuts us away from God.
Joseph preserved his integrity when surrounded by idolaters in Egypt, in
the midst of sin and blasphemy and corrupting influences.  When tempted
to turn from the path of virtue, his answer was, "How can I do this
great wickedness, and sin against God?"  Enoch, Joseph, and Daniel
depended upon a strength that was infinite.  This is the only course of
safety for Christians to pursue in our day.  Those who profess Christ
are too indolent in their religious life to surmount obstacles, and be
patient, kind, and forbearing.