Faith comes by hearing, knowledge by doing. Knowledge is the result of faith.
HOW KNOWLEDGE IS GAINED.
When a child is told that he can learn to read and write by following the instructions of his teacher he is likely to believe it. If he is told so by his parents or some one whose word he can rely upon he will believe with much assurance or confidence, which is called faith. That faith causes him to act. He follows the instructions of his teacher, and in time learns to read and write. His faith is then turned to knowledge. He does not depend upon the testimony of some one else. He knows from actual experience that the arts of reading and writing can be learned by taking the course marked out. It is the same with the Gospel. When it is obeyed it brings knowledge to the individual.
GROWTH OF FAITH ILLUSTRATED BY A PARABLE.
One of our Savior's parables shows very beautifully how the word of God, when received in the heart, begins to grow and expand. In His parable of the sower He likens the word of God, or the Gospel, to a seed. (Luke 8: 5-16). Embodied within a tiny seed is the germ or source of a most marvelous power. It is one of the greatest forces of the natural world. Under proper conditions that little mite of matter is capable of the most remarkable development. When a gardener obtains a precious kind of seed, or one that will produce a desirable fruit, he will preserve it with care. He will thoroughly prepare the soil in which he plants it, and will do all in his power to favor its growth. The desire to receive the good fruit he has been told it will produce makes him hope that the seed is good. That hope or wish will inspire him with enough faith to make the test.
In due time after planting he finds that the seed has commenced to grow. It puts forth tiny leaves that appear above the soil, and his faith is strengthened. He is assured that the seed had the germ of life within it when he received it. He continues to favor its growth, by keeping down the weeds, by protecting it from the scorching heat of the sun and the blighting breath of the wind and frost. By doing this the gardener sees that the plant continues to increase in size and strength. Thread-like roots spread out in all directions beneath the soil to secure hold therein, as well as to procure sustenance for its life and growth A tender twig shoots upward to receive additional sustenance from the air and the sunlight. Day by day and year by year the plant continues to grow and gain strength, until eventually it becomes a mighty tree. The heat of the sun now only causes it to grow the stronger, and the fierce winds to make its root more firmly planted, so that no ordinary force can resist its power of expansion.
In due season the tree produces fruit of its kind. Its seeds ripen and fall to the earth, and they in turn grow, and thus the species is perpetuated forever.
With the ripening of the fruit the faith of the man who planted the tree is ripened into perfect knowledge. He knows what was told him about the seed was true, having thoroughly tested it.
WORD OF GOD LIKE A SEED.
The word of God, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is in character like the seed. As the seed contains within it such great physical force, so the word of God possesses most wonderful spiritual power. When the Gospel of Christ is heard by one who has a desire to obtain its fruits, that desire will awaken within him a spark of belief. That belief will cause him to prepare his heart for the reception of the word of God. He will plant it there by seeking to obey its teachings. When once planted there, if cherished, shielded and protected it will grow. Its effect will be similar to that of the seed buried in good soil. Its roots of faith will sink deep in the heart and become firmly planted there. Hope, like a tender twig, will spring heavenward. By this the person will know that the seed was good Day by day and year by year it will strengthen, until neither the heat of temptation nor the storms of adversity can disturb it or uproot it from the heart. It, too, in time will bring forth fruit, the fruit of eternal life. Such is the wonderful character of the word of God, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.