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「人非有信，不能得上帝的喜悅，因爲到上帝面前來的人,必須信有上帝，且信祂賞賜那尋求祂的人」 ( 希伯來書十一章第六節)
信心在危急中更能發揮它的力量。
聖經中充滿著危難的日子。它的故事由危難的日子所構成，它的詩篇，是在危難日子中獲得的靈感，它的預言也與此有關，它的啓示也以此而發。
危難的日子是通往光明之路的踏腳石；是上帝的機會，也是人類智慧的訓練所。詩篇第一百零七篇歌頌耶和華的慈愛，此外在每個救贖的故事中，危急存亡之秋，往往是上帝的好機會。人的才智窮竭，絕望無援的時候，乃是上帝的能力開始發揮。記得嗎？上帝曾應許——對從未生育而老邁形同朽木的夫婦，應許要有後裔，並且多如天上的星、海邊的沙。你可翻開聖經再讀一讀以色列人過紅海得救的故事，還有以色列人擡著約櫃，從約旦河中涉水而過的故事。還有，亞撒、約沙法和希西家被苦難逼迫，不知如何是好的時候，他們是怎樣祈禱的。再溫習一下尼希米、但以理、何西阿和哈巴谷的歷史。再以敬畏的心默默立于客西馬尼的幽暗中，到約瑟家的墳墓旁，回想那些可怕的日子。去拜訪最初創立教會的見證人，去探問使徒在危難日子中所經歷的故事。
危急勝於灰心。
信心不會使危急變成絕望。信心的任務是支援你去解決危難，在危難之際，信心的反面就是灰心，信心維持不變，就能得勝。
在危難之際，恐怕沒有比那三個希伯來子民所表現得更偉大。他們的處境雖然危急萬分，但他們仍能勇敢的回答道：「我們所事奉的上帝，能將我們從烈火的窯中救出來。王阿！祂也必救我們脫離你的手。即或不然，王阿！你當知道我們決不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像。」( 參閱但以理書第三章 )
「即或不然」，這句話何等令人欽佩。
我想把剩餘的篇幅，來說起耶穌在客西馬尼園的禱告。請深切的體會其中「然而」二字，「倘若可行，求祢叫這杯離開我，然而不要照我的意思，只要照祢的意思！」深沈的黑暗已經籠罩著主的靈魂，信靠上帝，就要受流血的痛苦，淪入死亡的深淵，——然而!
現在拿起你們的歌本，唱你們所最喜愛的，那些讚美危急中的詩吧。——蔡特威克 (Rev.S.Chadwick)
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"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(Heb. 11:6.)
THE faith for desperate days.
The Bible is full of such days. Its record is made up of them, its songs are inspired by them, its prophecy is concerned with them, and its revelation has come through them.
The desperate days are the stepping-stones in the path of light. They seem to have been God's opportunity and man's school of wisdom.
There is a story of an Old Testament love feast in Psalm 107, and in every story of deliverance the point of desperation gave God His chance. The "wit's end" of desperation was the beginning of God's power. Recall the promise of seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sands of the sea, to a couple as good as dead. Read again the story of the Red Sea and its deliverance, and of Jordan with its ark standing mid-stream. Study once more the prayers of Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah, when they were sore pressed and knew not what to do. Go over the history of Nehemiah, Daniel, Hosea, and Habakkuk. Stand with awe in the darkness of Gethsemane, and linger by the grave in Joseph's garden through those terrible days. Call the witnesses of the early Church, and ask the apostles the story of their desperate days.
Desperation is better than despair.
Faith did not make our desperate days. its work is to sustain and solve them. The only alternative to a desperate faith is despair, and faith holds on and prevails.
There is no more heroic example of desperate faith than that of the three Hebrew Children. The situation was desperate, but they answered bravely, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. but if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." I like that," but if not!"
I have only space to mention Gethsemane. Ponder deeply its" Nevertheless." "If it is possible....nevertheless!" Deep darkness had settled upon the soul of our Lord. Trust meant anguish unto blood and darkness to the descent of hell─Nevertheless! Nevertheless!
Now get your hymn book and sing your favorite hymn of desperate faith.
--- Rev. S. Chadwick.
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