The A.C.E. curriculum and program presents a wonderful Godly image of moral purity, goodness, and excellence illustrated through the Virtueson family. Mr. and Mrs. Virtueson are the ideal parents—clean, wholesome, and pure. Their son, Ace, is one of the primary characters in the PACEs. He loves the Lord and consistently does what is right. He is always being what God wants him to be. He is a role model for others. Grandpa and Grandma Virtueson round out the family, demonstrating a long life of purity, wisdom, and virtue. The entire Virtueson family presents ideal role models for students.
A.C.E. defines virtuous as being what God wants me to be, which will show forth His purity. The 1828 Webster Dictionary records that virtuous means being “morally good; acting in conformity to the moral law; practicing the moral duties, and abstaining from vice.” In other words, being virtuous is having moral goodness or excellence! That is what we want in our lives, and that is what we want to instill in the lives of students around the world through the A.C.E. curriculum.
In Philippians Paul gives us a perfect formula for building virtue into our lives. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8) Whatever is clean, wholesome, and pure, think on these things! When we fill our minds with good thoughts, our feelings, words, and actions will be virtuous. David said, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. (Psalm 119:1)
Boaz found that the entire town recognized Ruth as a very virtuous woman. Boaz said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter [Ruth]: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. (Ruth 3:10, 11)
Believers are called to a life of virtue and moral excellence. In fact, our Lord wants us to be “partakers of the divine nature” by escaping the corruption that is in the world. How do we do that? Peter says it this way: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (II Peter 1:5-7) These eight character qualities must be added to our faith by developing them in our lives. Peter continues to explain that if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:8)