As I interact with friends and family and each of us matures, I find an interesting trend in the way people think. For me, my faith has deepened and I feel that I want to do right because it is a small burden in comparison with the burden taken on by Christ. I know others whose faith has developed and matured along the same lines. For me, when faith and reason came together, it was the beginning of a whole new way of life. Others seem to have settled either into a happy dichotomy between faith and reason or they have taken a reasonable approach to dealing with tenets of faith that they feel defy reason. Thus, there are three responses I see to religion and faith in mature individuals; a strong faith which is centered in sound reason, a strong faith which is centered in ignoring reason, or a strong morality based upon reason alone (abandoning faith).
Even those who have abandoned faith and religion can see that there are benefits to living a moral life. The question I pose is, "What reward is there for living a moral life? Why should we bother?". I believe I can offer a satisfactory answer, at least to those who live morally for the sake of faith.
First, I wish to point out that those who are "saved" are those who are truly converted to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not merely the intellectual assent of saying the sinners prayer, this is a continuing conversion of one's way of life which must continue until the last breath." Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10" Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12
These passages make clear that the crown of life is a reward for perseverance.Therefore, our conversion must be a lifelong exercise in being the best that we are capable of being, of doing the work of God in this world.
Jesus told his followers that they must be perfect to enter the kingdom of heaven. Examine his words at the end of his famous Sermon on the Mount discourse (after the Beatitudes);" 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may [ap]be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise onthe evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore [aq]you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5
"How can we possibly be perfect?", you may ask yourself. The answer is that we are being made perfect as we cooperate with God's grace. Cooperating with grace means, along with belief in God, living moral lives, and not just lives which are moral in comparison to others, but lives which are perfectly moral. This would seem a tall order if it weren't for the fact that God offers us grace to enable us. By baptism, we are freed from original sin, and we can live according to the perfect nature man was created with and Jesus restored to man. This is where many have decided to abandon faith. It seems too hard, and they don't see the point. Many have been told that their salvation is sure if they have just prayed that sinner's prayer and acknowledged Jesus as the means of salvation. They see no point in living righteous lives, because they fear no punishment. This way of thinking is dangerous and detrimental to the souls of these people who began with sincere faith, only to have it extinguished as they watched the lives of professed Christians who repeatedly sin with impunity.
Now I get to the real point: there is punishment for failing to live morally and there is reward for living morally. There is loss for the unfaithful and gain for the faithful.
Repeatedly in scripture, we see that there will be a judgement day. Every person will be judged. That judgement will ultimately result in death(eternal separation from God, who is the source of life) for those who do not trust or acknowledge God and life (eternal joy in the presence of God) for those who trust Him. That is the ultimate destination of souls, it does not take into account what must happen between living an imperfect life and becoming perfect in order to joyfully enter the presence of a holy God. The scripture deals with this as well. In I Corinthians 3 it says "10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, [d]precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [e]the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
As this passage points out, the works of Believers will be tested so that only the pure ones remain. Everything we do, then, will be tested by fire so that we can enter the presence of God perfect. This is why Catholics believe there is Purgatory. Purgatory literal means "a place of purging". We believe that everything in our lives which is imperfect must be purged after our death so that we can enter into the presence of God with joy rather than fear. We see this as a grace from God, allowing us access to His presence in spite of our failings.
There is a converse of this also. Those works which were right, good, and from pure motives will remain and cannot be taken from us. If we endure in our attempt to live righteous lives to the end, we will receive the crown of everlasting life. I think it is very important for Christians to recognize this reality and not to fall victim to false teachings which will rob them of eternal joy.
We cannot live as if there is no God. We cannot live as if He is not holy and just. We cannot live without grace, for without it we will continue to fail miserably.
Depending on God's grace, given to us by the Lord Jesus through His Church, we can live morally good and righteous lives. I encourage all who read this: Endure to the end!
