The Power That Moves To Action
As we ponder life and the problems that face us every day, we are ofttimes stunned at what seems to be a lack of solutions to our problems. As we look to our future – especially the young – we could easily become discouraged and filled with despair at its prospects.
We are constantly being warned of the dangers man is imposing upon himself. And young people often get the impression that the future is bleak, that there are too many insolvable problems, too many questions without answers.
Sometimes we don’t know the answers and have to accept life on faith. Someone said, “It has taken me all my life to understand that it is not necessary to understand everything.”1
The late American statesman, John Foster Dulles said: “We are establishing an all-time world record in the production of material things. What we lack is a righteous and dynamic faith.”2 What we need to assure our future is a faith in life, a faith in God. Sometimes because we lack faith, we are driven to act in ways we know are wrong, actions that we would not ordinarily attempt under different circumstances.
Now faith in itself, is not the solution to our problems, but it is the means by which we can overcome our fears and doubts, our disappointment and despair; the means by which we can find the courage to go forward in life and solve our problems.
David 0. McKay offered this observation and guidance: “[Faith] is more than a mere feeling. It is power that moves to action, and should be in human life the most basic of all motivating forces… The great need of today is faith that will put purpose into life, and courage into the heart… The need of the world is more than a mere acceptance of [Jesus Christ] as the greatest of all men. What is really essential is faith in Him as a divine being – as our Lord and Savior.”3
Faith is like climbing a hill when one is lost. From the canyons below it is nearly impossible to tell which direction to turn, but when we reach the crest, we can see the road below and where it leads and feel assured that we are going in the right direction and will reach our destination. And so, it is with faith.
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conv1ct1on of things not seen.”4 As Emerson expressed it, “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”5
1Author Unknown
2John Foster Dulles (1888-1959), U.S. Sec. of State
3David 0. McKay, CBS Church of the Air address, December 19, 1943
4New Testament, Hebrews 11:1 (Revised Version)
5Ralph Waldo Emerson
April 09, 1972
Broadcast Number 2,220