GOD: A SOURCE OF CONVICTION
Power In Faith
I F you have a super-telescope that can view the entire universe, you will first of all see that rare planet called earth. You will observe that, amidst the totally lifeless universe, this tiny planet has an abundance of life and various kinds of life-supporting elements. This exceptional sight would be so overwhelming that you would be wonder-struck.
You would also see that—the earth, along with its moon and the other planets, are continuously in motion, rotating on their axes, and orbiting around the sun; at the same time, this entire solar system revolving in the wider circle of the Milky Way Galaxy; and the galaxy rotating in the much wider circle of other galaxies.
The movement of the stars and planets in this vast endless space will appear astonishingly strange to your sight. You will then see an unbelievable number of vast balls of fire called stars, moving with great speed. Amidst these astral bodies, our earth will appear no more than a grain of sand.
In this vast universe, man’s only source of support is God. It is by God’s guidance
that man’s ship is brought safely ashore.
This sight will be so astounding that your own existence will appear to be totally insignificant and worthless. This experience will lead you to the discovery of two things. Firstly, there is a powerful God in this universe, its Creator and Sustainer. If you can recall this sight of the universe your heart will automatically call out that the universe itself is a clear proof of its Creator. Secondly, in the face of the immensity of the universe you will feel helpless and insignificant, and understand that without God, your very existence is not possible. This is the most important reality of life. Comprehending this, one will voluntarily turn to God. One’s whole being, will call out:
“O God, help me, for, without Your help everything will go wrong!”
In this vast universe, man’s only source of support is God. It is by God’s guidance that man’s ship is brought safely ashore. Belief in God is vital for man. Man is nothing without this belief.
Sometimes in the course of daily life a feeling of helplessness overcomes man, the same kind of helplessness that he experiences while observing the universe through a telescope. All men and women have the feeling that they suffer from limitations when they cannot achieve what they want. These limitations make them feel dejected and helpless. Illness, accident, loss, death or old age are a part of man’s experience. They are constant reminders of the fact that we are in need of a superior power. Without the help of such a superior power, we cannot go on with our lives. These feelings are a psychological proof of the existence of God. We go through this psychological experience at various points in our lives. Each one of us, in our inner feelings, thus bears witness to the existence of God.
The nature of every human being constantly urges one to recognise the need for God. Without God, our lives will not be complete. Without the help of God we cannot succeed. Man’s position is further illustrated by the following example.
Each one of us, in our inner feelings,
bears witness to the existence of God.
A hundred years ago, a ship sailed from the coast of America towards Africa. When the ship was far out in the open sea, a severe storm broke out, making it heave and shudder. The passengers were all shaken and in a state of great fear and anxiety. At this time of crisis, one of the passengers noticed a little girl in a corner on the deck playing with her dolls, quite undisturbed by the storm. Seeing her, he got curious and asked, “Do you know what is happening to our ship?”
The girl asked, “What is the matter?” The passenger told her that the ship was caught in a dangerous storm. The girl calmly replied: “You know, my father is the Captain of this ship. He is not going to let it sink.”
The girl’s faith in her father saved her from being a victim of fear at this crucial moment. The same is true of a person of faith. He has the same childlike faith in his Creator, God Almighty. But his is a faith of far greater intensity. When catastrophe threatens, he can say with much stronger conviction that God Almighty is the Captain of the ship of his life: He will never let it sink under any circumstance.