“ I tell all of you with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. ” – Jesus of Nazareth
This may be one of the most profound and meaningful statements found in the Bible, both in terms of the power of faith and as the perfect example of the weakness of human understanding.
The concept of mind over matter still confounds science today. There are numerous examples of efforts to manipulate physical objects by the power of the mind. Even the CIA and military researchers have devoted considerable effort to harnessing the power of the human mind toward this goal. Those efforts exist as a testament to the belief that there exists a power that we are unable to measure or control.
The mustard seed example that Jesus used is foremost, an illustration of a power that is beyond human understanding. It is also a visual representation that humans can understand. It gives us a benchmark that we can use to understand the power of faith. Only in recent history have we discovered a contemporary example that helps us grasp that power.
The development of the atomic bomb during world war II was based on the incredible power contained in a single atom. Like the mustard seed which can produce an enormous plant, an atom of a radioactive substance can yield power dramatically greater than the size of the atom would suggest.
So, how does this fit into our search for faith?
The example of the mustard seed, provided by Jesus, was a representation that could be understood by the people of His time, yet would continue to be understood in our own time. If Jesus had spoken instead about the power of the atom, its meaning would have been lost to the people of 2,000 years ago. Only today, with our understanding of contemporary science, can we fully appreciate the concept of so much power being present in such a minute form.
As we search for a logical foundation for faith, we must ask ourselves, “Who but an emissary from God would have understood and had the insight to present the power of faith to the masses in a form they would understand?”
The fact that such potential exists in a seed or an atom is hard evidence that there are forces of nature that are beyond our ability to understand or duplicate. It is also hard evidence, even for those who use logic to doubt, that our existence, and the existence of our universe is no accident.
Just as humans existed for generations before harnessing the power of the atom, we have yet to learn to harness the power of faith. Perhaps, if we open our minds, we will recognize those miracles that occur when we tap into the slightest measure of the power of faith.
Perhaps only then will we glimpse the true power of faith.