Virtue

Have you ever watched the first Chronicles of Narnia movie? Do you remember the battle scene? The way Peter cried “For Narnia and for Aslan” before they rushed to meet the advancing enemy, the White Witch? Can you picture the two sides charging at each other? Can you hear the swooshing-screech of swords being drawn from their scabbards, the clash of metal on metal as weapons collide? Can you see the way total chaos and destruction broke out once the two sides met on the battle line? The land between them completely obliterated in the face of war.

Every centurion, soldier, dwarf, giant, jaguar, and griffin was on a side that day, whether for good or for evil. There was no middle ground; no passively watching with a bucket of popcorn as battle broke out. Everyone had an active part in fighting for the side they believed in; the leader whom they followed faithfully.

Avoiding evil is not sufficient to make one virtuous as virtue must be an active choice.

By gleaning wisdom from those older than us, consulting God’s word, and wrestling the topic in class, the Frisco Main Challenge Two class of 2023-2024 has thus far concluded that virtue can be defined as,

“Striving for God’s standard by living in integrity, expressing self-control, and doing the right thing even when we do not desire it, confessing our sins, and living out moral excellence, while persevering and showing brotherly love in all areas.”

 You have the choice to be of virtue or of vice. Of honor or of dishonor. Of upright, honest integrity or of crooked, dishonest scheming. The choice is yours, but my advice would be to heed this warning, “those who are not for me are against me.” “So those who acknowledge me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in Heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in Heaven.” [Matthew 12:30, 10:32-33]

Today I will be revealing to you the paths which you are allowed to take, the choice it is which you must make. I will do this by showing the consequences of both virtue and vice and from there allow you to draw your own conclusion on which road you desire. But first it is important that we do not have any question on the absolutes of God, His plan, nor the sacrifice of His son on the cross.

There is no possible way in all of creation that you or I could ever be virtuous on our own. C.S Lewis writes in his book The Screwtape Letters “Humans are…half spirit and half animal. … As spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time. [ch 8, p 2] “All the habits of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in our favor.” [ch 2, p 1] Because of the habitual ways of our “animalistic” sin nature, there is nothing in us which would naturally gravitate towards the earthly pain which will undoubtedly follow with the path of narrowness. It is the law of nature, after all, to take the path of least resistance. (Even though, as we often fail to see, the path of least resistance is not automatically equivalent to the path of greatest reward. In fact, it is more often the exact opposite.) The Apostle Paul declares in his letter to the romans that “None is righteous, no not even one.” [Romans 3:10]. The prophet Jeremiah proclaims that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” [Jeremiah 17:9]. It is for these reasons that the following statement can be declared true. Virtue is a choice, but it must be taught.

In a discussion with my parents centering around the question of whether or not virtue can be taught, we arrived at the conclusion that, “virtue can only be taught because no one would strive for it on their own, the heart is evil. Though we may inherently know what virtue is due to the moral code being a part of our DNA, we would not strive to walk in it; we would not come by it naturally. This is the whole reason we have the Bible, to point out our depravity and need for Christ; the only truly virtuous man, and to instruct us how to walk virtuously as we grow in sanctification.”

This is the reason for Christ’s death on the cross. To strip us of the Cinderella type rags that were our sin and shame, and to clothe us instead with His imputed righteousness through grace. Only through acceptance of and belief in this sacrifice can we come to understand the characters of God, including virtue, and receive the holiness needed to enter through the Golden Gates on Judgement Day.

So now, upon being certain that it is only by the grace of God and the humble sacrifice of Christ that we are able to even have this choice, let us explore our options.

Option One: A Field of Fun but Remaining Repercussions.

Picture life on earth as a football field. It is wide open for you to do whatever you want. You can lie, cheat, covet, steal, drink, curse, smoke, commit adultery; pleasure yourself in every way, shape, and form. But where will it get you? In a jail cell? On the streets, homeless? Killed from overdosage? In a failed marriage and broken family relationships due to infidelity and dishonesty? It may seem good in the moment, but where will it end?

You could also be a “good person” who works hard, climbs the ladder of success only to realize the rungs go on forever yet never extend high enough, and you are always one step behind on making it to the top. You could have a loving family, the fastest car, the nicest clothes, the biggest house, the fanciest vacations, and the best-looking spouse who adores you madly. You could have it all, you could be the Joneses or even the Kardashians, as happy and carefree as the Von Trapp siblings bicycling along the river. However, vast as they are, every football field eventually comes to an end. And one day you will clamber down from your bike to discover all you took pride in is dead. And then what will you have? Where does it end? What will it become? Ashes swept away in the wind.

A mist and a vapor, here one moment but gone the next. This is what life is. Technology breaks, beauty in appearances fade, people let you down, fashions change, and the definition of “great” is rewritten day by day, minute by minute, hour by hour. Until one day, you will come to the end of the football field and will be set before a great throne, face down in awe and terror of the One who created you. And you will be forced to answer to an account of how you spent your life. Every time you coveted the big thing you didn’t have, lusted after someone you shouldn’t, and chose to worship yourself; your comfort, when you should have worshipped God.

And then what will you say? What will there be to say?

Simply this, that you have denied Him before man, so now will He deny you before the Father. That you have chosen to live in darkness because it allowed you the freedom and hidden safety to bring yourself pleasure, so now will you be allowed live in darkness forever. As that is what you chose.

A field of fun for the moment, but remaining repercussions for eternity.

Option Two: Field of Faith and of Function with Remaining Righteousness.

Once again, picture life on earth as a football field. It is wide open for you to do whatever you want. You can lie, cheat, drink, smoke, and pleasure yourself in every way, shape, and form. But you could also be forthright, serving, honorable, and aiming to please God in every way of every moment of every day. True, that washing the feet of orphans, sharing your good fortunes with the destitute and downtrodden, and sharing the Good News of the Gospel will not bring about the fame and glory of trying to be the next Jeff Bezos, but it may just bring you the words of “Well done my good and faithful servant” when you bow before the throne. No, it will not be easy, the Enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. It is guaranteed that he will try to get a foothold in whatever aspect of your life he can; tempt you to give in to your desires, tempt others so that they give in and let you down, place doubt in your mind, guilt trip you into believing you are not doing enough so that you are juggling too many things and are exhausted. All of this will he do, not accounting for the ways God Himself will allow you to be tested in order to determine the steadfastness of your faith in Him. This will never be easy, as it forces you to stand as if in the presence of your favorite dessert; one you know would bring so much pleasure to your tastebuds; and yet refrain because you know that your parent has forbidden it.

“He leaves the creature [man] to stand up on its own legs – to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish...” –C.S Lewis, Screwtape Letters [ch 8, p 4].

So then why do it, you ask? When it is surely the harder course of action? Because unlike the Field of Fun which will end abruptly and throw you into a jarring reality when you approach that throne, the Field of Faith and of Function will carry you over the threshold and to the feet of our Creator.

The quote finishes, “…It is during such trough periods, much more than during peak periods, that it [man] is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be.”

By withholding from temptation, and withstanding trials you are growing into who the Father sees us to be. So that when you face that throne, you will still have to give an account for all of the ways you have fallen short, but you will also be able to declare your unwavering belief in Christ’s sacrifice reconciling you with God so that by His mercy you can be allowed in His presence.

You can respond with the truth that you have acknowledged Him before man, so now will He acknowledge you before the Father. That you have chosen to live in His Light because it allowed you the peace and strength to withstand fear and temptation, so now will you be allowed to live in His Light forever; made new in perfection. As that is what you chose.

 The field of faith and of function with remaining righteousness.

So, you see, there are two options. The option of vice and the option of virtue. Vice, the field of fun, will bring you temporary fun here on Earth but an eternity of repercussions, sorrow, and anguish. Virtue, the field of faith and function, may bring you temporary anguish here on Earth, but eternal righteousness, joy, and blessings.

The choice is yours, pick your side. Of light or of dark, good or of evil. Remember that there is only one who shall triumph and both sides already know who that will be.

John 1:5, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”

James 2:19, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”

In conclusion, avoiding evil is not sufficient to make one virtuous as virtue must be an active choice. Today we have analyzed the two options every man must decide between, options of secular fun or of spiritual faith. The choice of picking righteousness will never be easy, but it will always be simple, and it must be active. In this spiritual war that takes place all around us, there is no middle ground; no passively watching with a bucket of popcorn as battle breaks out. Everyone has an active part in fighting for the side they believe in; the leader whom they will follow faithfully. And the day your fight ceases, you will come to realize that there is, in actuality, only one Leader whom you must answer to. And He will either stand stern, looking down as a general does upon an unfaithful soldier, and say to you, “I never knew you, depart from me, you worker of lawlessness.” [Matthew 7:23] Or He will stand loving and merciful, smiling down as a Father does upon their child, and He will declare to you, “Well done, you good and faithful servant.” [Matthew 25:21] “Your faith has made you well” [Mark 5:34] “neither do I condemn you; go and from now on sin no more.” [John 8:11] “Welcome home, my child, well done.”

So, the only question left is “which do you want to hear?” What will be the path to lead you there?