A Step of Faith
A S T E P O F F A I T H
One of my favorite heroes is Indiana Jones, the movie character played by Harrison Ford, who is part Archaeologist, part Adventurer in search of some ancient relic or location which always takes him on a life threatening journey.
In one scene we find Indiana Jones being chased through a cavern by those who would take his life. Suddenly he stops abruptly at what looks to be the end of his escape and probably his life!
He finds himself standing on the edge of a huge un-leapable precipice with no way around or over.
As his enemy in pursuit draws nearer, he remembers an ancient legend and realizes he must take a Step of Faith. If the legend is true, he must step off the edge into the darkness. If he steps in Faith, something will catch his step and he will continue to do so to the other side and safety. If not, he will fall to his death. He realizes he will face death soon anyway if he stays. What to do? He decides to trust the legend , to take a Step of Faith, and so he does. As his foot steps off the cliff into the dark unknown, suddenly from the edge of the cliff a stone path juts forward to the other side, catching his step then the next until he is safely standing on the other side of a deep dark abyss. He then continues his escape to freedom and safety.
Let's explore the symbolism of his "Step of Faith."
In the New Testament, the book of Hebrews teaches us (Hebrew 11:1) " Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Then Paul gives us several examples of men and women who acted in Faith- not knowing beforehand the result of their "Step of
Faith" and thus qualifying for God's blessings and their own solid stone path forward.
Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Joshua and others all acted with great Faith. I love verses 24 and 25.
"By Faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." verse 29-"By Faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned." Then verse 30, "By Faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
The Book of Mormon tells of Nephi going to obtain the Brass Plates as commanded. (1 Nephi 4:6) "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."
We too must eventually take our own "Step of Faith." Unlike Indiana Jones, our "Step of Faith" is not based on ancient legend, rather on ancient scripture. His stone path is our rock and foundation.
(Helaman 5:12) "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build the cannot fall."
As you face your "Indiana Jones" episodes in life, when you feel you are being pressed by evil or just life's challenges in whatever form they appear, we pray that you will have the courage required to take your "Step of Faith" in Jesus Christ. Peter's "Step of Faith" allowed him to walk on the water toward the Savior. If your faith begins to waver, be wise enough, as Peter, to call out and reach out to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and He will reach out to you, sustaining you and pulling you up to His arms of safety. As Nephi taught, (2 Nephi 25:29) "...the right was is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in no wise be cast out."
We know that the Lord will bless you as your step forward in faith.
Of this we are certain- as we take our "Step of Faith" toward Ukraine!
Much Love- The Grandparent Chronicles
One of my favorite heroes is Indiana Jones, the movie character played by Harrison Ford, who is part Archaeologist, part Adventurer in search of some ancient relic or location which always takes him on a life threatening journey.
In one scene we find Indiana Jones being chased through a cavern by those who would take his life. Suddenly he stops abruptly at what looks to be the end of his escape and probably his life!
He finds himself standing on the edge of a huge un-leapable precipice with no way around or over.
As his enemy in pursuit draws nearer, he remembers an ancient legend and realizes he must take a Step of Faith. If the legend is true, he must step off the edge into the darkness. If he steps in Faith, something will catch his step and he will continue to do so to the other side and safety. If not, he will fall to his death. He realizes he will face death soon anyway if he stays. What to do? He decides to trust the legend , to take a Step of Faith, and so he does. As his foot steps off the cliff into the dark unknown, suddenly from the edge of the cliff a stone path juts forward to the other side, catching his step then the next until he is safely standing on the other side of a deep dark abyss. He then continues his escape to freedom and safety.
Let's explore the symbolism of his "Step of Faith."
In the New Testament, the book of Hebrews teaches us (Hebrew 11:1) " Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Then Paul gives us several examples of men and women who acted in Faith- not knowing beforehand the result of their "Step of
Faith" and thus qualifying for God's blessings and their own solid stone path forward.
Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Joshua and others all acted with great Faith. I love verses 24 and 25.
"By Faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." verse 29-"By Faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned." Then verse 30, "By Faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
The Book of Mormon tells of Nephi going to obtain the Brass Plates as commanded. (1 Nephi 4:6) "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."
We too must eventually take our own "Step of Faith." Unlike Indiana Jones, our "Step of Faith" is not based on ancient legend, rather on ancient scripture. His stone path is our rock and foundation.
(Helaman 5:12) "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build the cannot fall."
As you face your "Indiana Jones" episodes in life, when you feel you are being pressed by evil or just life's challenges in whatever form they appear, we pray that you will have the courage required to take your "Step of Faith" in Jesus Christ. Peter's "Step of Faith" allowed him to walk on the water toward the Savior. If your faith begins to waver, be wise enough, as Peter, to call out and reach out to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and He will reach out to you, sustaining you and pulling you up to His arms of safety. As Nephi taught, (2 Nephi 25:29) "...the right was is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in no wise be cast out."
We know that the Lord will bless you as your step forward in faith.
Of this we are certain- as we take our "Step of Faith" toward Ukraine!
Much Love- The Grandparent Chronicles
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