F. D. STARR by F. D. STARR

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 5, 1905

F. D. STARR

By F. D. STARR

“By Faith We Understand”

F. D. STARR

LIFE is full of mysterious problems; many things that we would like to know seem to be beyond our comprehension. We fail to understand God's dealings with us sometimes; we are puzzled to know why our fellow beings act as they do; we are tempted to look upon all things with which we have to do as a bundle of inconsistencies. Why is this? we inquire.

But let us be calm a moment. The multitude of things so mysterious to us may all be classified under two heads,—things that we do not need to understand, and things that by faith we can understand. As to the first class, the wise man himself confessed there were some things too wonderful for him, that he could not know (Prov. 30:18, 19), and David speaks of a knowledge that was too wonderful, too high, for him. Ps. 139:6. He says also that he refrained from exercising himself in matters beyond his reach, that were too high or too great for him, Ps. 131:1. Let us imitate this example, and thus free our minds from a multitude of queries with which we need not concern ourselves. We shall thus dispose of a large share of life's perplexing conundrums.

The other class of problems is just as thoroughly provided for; “through faith we understand.” What a relief to troubled minds! “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.” To understand how the worlds came into existence is perhaps as great a feat as can be accomplished by our perceptive faculties. It is a matter over which scientists and geologists have puzzled their minds without arriving at any satisfactory understanding; but we understand it as fully as we need to understand it now, and we give ourselves no further trouble about that question. God by his infinite power spoke the worlds into existence. Faith teaches us this sufficient lesson.

“The Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding.” 1 John 5:20. By the faith given through him we understand. By faith we have eternal life; by faith we are come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God; by faith we enter into rest; and by faith we understand.

But what is faith?—“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” If some friend promises to give you a full explanation of a matter that you do not understand, your mind is quieted, and you are nearly as well satisfied as after the explanation is fully made. So by faith we understand,—by faith in Jesus Christ, who fully understands all things, and who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption,—and it is only when we humble ourselves to be satisfied with his understanding of matters, and accept of that by faith as our understanding, that we get into that condition where he can teach us, and enlighten the eyes of our understanding also, so that our mental faculties can comprehend things otherwise mysterious to us.

Forest, Idaho.