The Pursuit of Excellence: Meditations on the Power of Righteousness

You have probably heard the statement, “Nice guys finish last.” It is not new. The prophet Jeremiah went as far as calling God to the bar to question him about his judgements. “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?” (Jer.12:1). At the heart of the matter is the value of a virtuous life.

For many believers there is uncertainty as to the value of righteous living. It seems like if there is little to no payout on an investment in being an honest and honourable person and so many Christ followers shift more towards a liberal position on issues of morality. Many are willing to compromise Biblically fundamental positions on certain moral and ethical issues for the sake of social, financial, and political expediency. What is worse is that we are unaware of the direct correspondence between the loss of the church’s power and influence in society and the increase in moral and spiritual decadence. Jesus tells us that when lawlessness abounds it is always at the expense of a cooling down of love for God (Mt.24:12).

The aim of this series of messages is to call the body of Christ back to the pursuit of moral excellence. We will discover that there is beauty and power and healing in holiness (Ps.110:3; Ro.1:4); that the righteous has influence with God (Jas.5:16); that they will flourish like the palm tree (Ps.92:12), and that their descendants will never out be begging bread (Ps.37:25). And in the ages to come they will shine as the stars forever and ever (Dan.12:3).