p. 4 | A Steadying Faith by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1916

A Steadying Faith

By F. M. W.

THAT the world’s outlook is anything but encouraging or reassuring must be evident to every student of the times. With the ravages of war ruthlessly consuming the products of peace, with the high and increasing cost of living, with the growing racial and class hatred and bitterness, with the intensifying misunderstanding between capital and labor, and with the disintegrating elements at work in the social and religious life of every nation, there is not very much in the outlook at the present time to afford hope or satisfaction.

There is needed, as the editor of one of our exchanges emphasizes, “a steadying faith;” a hope in God which reaches out and grasps the realities of the divine promises. It will take more than a faith in creeds or in a system of doctrines to hold the followers of the Master loyal today. Nothing less than a personal and living experience in God will hold in the stress and storm of the world’s great crisis. As another has said, we must gather strength from the weakness of others; warmth from their coldness; courage from their cowardice; loyalty from their treason. The one who stands must stand as did Elijah, alone with God, conscious of his abiding presence, of his spiritual guidance.

Heaven will shake us loose from every human influence, so that if all men forsake the Master, we shall stand true and faithful. But standing in this integrity, in this Christian independence, will not develop a spirit of aloofness from our fellows. As never before, Christian believers need to come into personal touch with one another. Each needs the sympathy and encouragement which can

come only in Christian fellowship. But this fellowship will not take the place of greater fellowship with the Elder Brother. Indeed, there can be Christian fellowship only as it centers in Christ; there can be Christian unity only as his Spirit becomes the unifying power in the heart of every believer. Let us seek for that steadying faith which can be found only in a daily, living, growing experience in the Lord Jesus Christ.

F. M. W.