In our previous essay we emphasized that faith is not a passive experience. The only faith that counts is the one which drives you to diligently seek the
Father. Just so, all of these Christian characteristics mentioned by Peter in this chapter are dynamic traits. None of them is simply descriptive of a
nice moral person. They envision a dynamic individual, involved in the process of overcoming the powerful influences of the pagan world, and challenging himself to grow more like the Master day after day.
The first characteristic we noted was virtue. This does not mean just being a good person. The word virtue comes from the Latin word for manliness. It is more than just avoiding moral mistakes. It is a positive, even aggressive effort to be a good person, in spite of a world which entices you to be otherwise. Knowledge is not learning academic facts in some protected ivory tower. It is awareness of God's presence in His world, and realizing that His is the only way that makes sense in the perverse society in which we live. These are added to your personality as a result of exercising your faith, and using its power to mold you into what God wants you to be.
Next Peter mentions temperance. There is always the battle between the passions of the earth-man and the reasoned control of the spiritual man. God
never intended for us to emasculate ourselves into a passionless, celibate, monastic existence. Being a Christian is not a retreat behind some cloister
walls, off the battlefield of life. The Christian is sent out to live life, with all of its passions, but to keep them under control. Temperance is not total rejection of all my earthly nature. It is the self-control which allows me to use what God has given me for good, and to discipline myself with the wisdom which comes from above. When Christ said, "Go", in the great commission, He sent us out into the world with the message of Heaven. He never intended for us to retreat from the battle, but to engage the enemy daily, and with self-control to win each encounter. Exercise your faith!
The next word is translated in some versions as "patience". However, make no mistake about it, this word does not mean to sit quietly by and wait. The
original word is a beautiful Greek word: hupomone. It literally means to bear up under. A better translation perhaps is steadfast. There is nothing
of passive acceptance in this word. It is the dynamic and determined action of one who stays the course, grits his teeth, and continues to pursue the right, in spite of all odds against him. Its Job saying, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him". It is the Christ, enduring the Cross while looking forward to the eternal purpose He was attaining for us. It is the Christian, exercising his faith with his eye on the goal, no matter what the world throws at him.
In our next essay, we will deal with the last three great characteristics in Peter's list: godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Stay with us.
