With the benefit of rain, the seeds then grow into a harvest and become
useful for nutrition. The Lord says, “If you know these things, you are
happy if you do them” (John 13 : 17 ). And elsewhere, “Those who received
seed in good ground are people who hear the Word and pay attention to it,
and therefore bear fruit and become productive” (Matthew 13 : 23 ). Also,
“Everyone who hears my words and does them I will compare to a prudent
man who built his house on a rock. But everyone who hears my words and
does not do them will be compared to a foolish man who built his house
on sand” (Matthew 7 : 24 , 26 ). Allthe words of the Lord are truths.
From what I have said just above it is clear that there are three things 348
that form faith in us: first, turning to the Lord; second, learning truths
from the Word; and third, living by those truths. Now, because there are
three parts to the formation of faith and each one is not the same as the
others, it follows that they are separable. People could turn to the Lord
and not know any truths about God and the Lord except things they had
been told in the past. People could also know a great many truths from
the Word and still not live by them. People for whom these three things
are separated, meaning that they have one but not another, do not have a
faith that will save them. A faith begins to have saving power when these
elements are connected. The quality of the faith depends on what kind of
connection the three have.
Where these three elements are kept separate, the faith there is like a
sterile seed planted in the ground that breaks down into dust. Where
these three elements are interconnected, the faith there is like a seed in
the ground that grows into a tree whose fruit reflects the nature of their
connection. Where these three elements are kept separate, the faith is like
an unfertilized egg. Where they are interconnected, the faith is like a fer-
tilized egg from a beautiful bird.
The faith of people who keep these three elements separate is like the
eye of a fish or a crab that has been cooked. The faith of people who
interconnect these three elements is like an eye that is clear right through
from the vitreous fluid to the pupil’s uvea. Faith in which these elements
are kept separate is like a painting done with dark colors on a black
stone. Faith in which these elements are connected is like a painting done
with beautiful colors on a clear crystal.
The light from a faith in which these elements are kept separate is like
the light of a glowing coal in the hand of a traveler at night, while the
light from a faith in which these elements are connected is like the light
of a blazing torch that makes each step clear as it is moved back and forth.
§348 faith 417