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Part Three - The Path of Life
Chapter 15 Faith
1) Faith
5. Faith in the Face of Adversity
World Scripture
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26.39
Now there was a day when [Job’s] sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; and there came a messenger to Job, and said, “The oxen were plowing and the asses feeding beside them; and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “The Chaldeans formed three companies, and made a raid upon the camels and took them, and slew the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1.13-22
Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth; and if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and killed him. Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 1 Samuel 17.33-36
When a surah comes down, enjoining them to believe in God and to strive and fight along with His Apostle, those with wealth and influence among them ask you for an exemption, saying, “Leave us behind; we would be with those who sit.” They prefer to be with the women who remain behind; their hearts are sealed and so they understand not. But the Apostle, and those who believe with him, strive and fight with their wealth and their persons; for them are all good things, and it is they who will prosper. Qur’an 9.86-88
And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came; and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. Mark 14.66-72
Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
Suppose you have been married for some time and are deeply in love, but suddenly your spouse dies. You feel as if all of heaven and earth were crumbling. At that moment you could curse God for taking your loved one away, but instead you should think: What could be the reason this has happened? You should recall that God often takes away something precious in order to give something more precious. Such is the heart of a parent.
You should think about your situation in light of the principle of restoration through indemnity, remembering that on the path of restoration, indemnity is something to be grateful for. Then you can appreciate it, saying, “God chose me to suffer this loss because He knows I am the only one strong enough to go this indemnity course.” And then, if you come before God with a settled spirit and pray, “What’s next?” God will be amazed. When you look at the long view, your suffering today will accrue as blessings to your descendants 100 years, 1,000 years in the future. (104:106, April 15, 1979)
Absolute faith! It is the subject of my prayer these days. Not the faith of Peter, but absolute faith. Absolute faith!… With absolute faith, you can go on even though you are dying. Prison is nothing; not even death can stop you from continuing on the path. Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Even though he died away from home, he died not for himself, but for the sake of the Father. He became a glorious offering.
Do you understand what your limitations are? You have to be courageous even in the face of death. Then a leap will occur—a leap. When you have made up your mind to die and go forward— even at the most difficult point where you cannot escape either down into the earth or up into the sky—God will surely appear. Hence, I am not bothered by the question of whether or not God exists. I experience so many of His works—works like in dreams. God always works as He desires for His people of absolute faith. (126:238, Unification Family Life 3.3.2)
Because our first ancestors fell due to disbelief, to go forward we have to overcome disbelief. We can go over the line where our first ancestors fell when we act out of absolute faith. What is the meaning of absolute faith? It means to go forward in the face of death, go forward even though you are dying, and continue even after you are dead. (126:35, April 10, 1983)
Today throughout the world Christianity appears to be fading. Even the United States, this gigantic nation, seems to be sinking. What kind of people does God, the unchanging Subject, look for to be His object partners? He cannot work with people who dance to the world’s tune and accommodate themselves to it. People change and the world changes, yet God looks for people who determine never to change, who say, “Even though the world may perish, we will not change.” God is expecting us to be such people, who stand on firm ground and who demonstrate both faith and zealous deeds. (66:47, March 18, 1973)
You call upon God, you cry out for God’s Will, you seek after God’s truth, and you fight for God’s glory. What is the purpose of such a life of faith? First, its purpose is to make you absolutely firm and resolute. God cannot trust you unless you have the conviction that no suffering can overpower you, and no historical sorrow can defeat you, for the foundation laid in your mind and body is unshakable. Unless God can trust you, He cannot use you to bring an end to the evil state of affairs of your generation. (12:304, August 11, 1963)
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