Taking the Long Look

Those who take the short look, who walk by sight, are able , at best, to see life only in the short run--and at that, with no clear assurance. On the other hand, those who take the long look, who walk by faith, see life in the long run. In other words, they see life whole.

Faith is not merely our adjustment to some particular situation; it is our adjustment to the whole of life.

This is clearly seen in the life of Jesus. Life, when we think of the circumstances under which Jesus lived it day by day, might well have been too much for Him and might have harassed His very soul. But He was able to go ahead each day with clear, purposeful action because of His trust in the Father and the consciousness that His life, regardless of passing vicissitudes, was in God's hands.

Thus Jesus lived, and thus He taught.

God was "our heavenly Father," and in complete control, numbering the hairs of our heads and watching the alighting of the sparrows: therefore He had only to do God's will and leave the rest in His hands. No matter what happened, God would take care of Him, take care of His work, and all would be well in the end.

That was Christ's teaching. That was His life.

In His case we may clearly see that all the fears and hesitations and frets which torment us can be swallowed up in a faith which sees life in its entire perspective.

If you wish to live triumphantly, through faith, take the long look and adjust to the whole of life. Of course, you cannot possess that faith through a mere effort of the will. You must cultivate the sense of His presence through worship and prayer. And so, resting in the adequacy of God, you are made, day by day, so fit for life that you accept its responsibilities without fear, and its joys with grateful hearts.

"We walk by faith, not by sight." II Cor. 5:7.