Before we can know God and understand his great plan it is first

“Before we can know God and understand His great plan, it is first necessary for us to believe that He exists and that He rewards all who diligently seek Him.” Thus spoke Joseph Franklin Rutherford, a man of conviction and fervor, who led his generation through storms of doubt and disbelief. These words are both a summons and a revelation — a reminder that the path to divine understanding begins not in sight, but in faith. One cannot grasp the hand of the Almighty without first believing that such a hand reaches out at all. For in the great order of heaven, belief precedes knowledge, and faith opens the door to revelation.

Rutherford’s declaration echoes the ancient wisdom found in the Scriptures: “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6). It is a truth as old as the dawn of human thought — that before man can comprehend the mysteries of creation, he must first bow in reverence before its Creator. Belief is the seed, and understanding is the fruit. To seek understanding without faith is like reaching for harvest without first planting the field. It is not reason that gives birth to faith, but faith that gives birth to true reason — for when man believes, his eyes are opened to see beyond the visible world into the eternal pattern behind it.

Rutherford lived in an age when the winds of skepticism blew fiercely across the world. Science had unveiled its laws; philosophy questioned every truth; and many hearts grew cold, worshiping knowledge but forgetting the source of wisdom. Yet Rutherford’s voice rose above the din, proclaiming that knowing God was not a matter of intellect alone, but of faithful pursuit. The one who would find God must diligently seek — not as a skeptic who demands proof before trust, but as a pilgrim who walks by faith, trusting that the path itself will reveal the destination. Such seeking is no idle act; it demands patience, perseverance, and purity of heart.

Consider the life of Abraham, the father of faith. When God called him to leave his homeland and journey to a land unknown, Abraham had no map, no sign, no evidence save a promise. Yet he believed — and in that belief, he found the heart of God. Through his faith, he came to understand the divine purpose not just for himself, but for generations yet unborn. His story teaches that belief precedes revelation; only those who step into the unknown in trust discover the light waiting beyond the horizon. So it is with every soul: God’s plan remains hidden until the heart believes that He exists and that His intentions toward man are good.

Rutherford’s words also carry a quiet warning for the proud of heart — those who would demand that God prove Himself before they bow. For such a spirit can never know the divine. Faith is the key that unlocks the door of understanding, but pride turns it to rust. The Almighty reveals His plan not to the arrogant mind, but to the humble seeker. This does not mean blind belief or superstition, but rather a trust that walks ahead of sight, knowing that the Creator rewards those who search for Him with sincerity and perseverance. In faith’s soil, doubt may sometimes grow, but it is plucked out by the hand that continues to seek.

There is in these words a profound comfort as well. To believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him is to know that no prayer, no effort, no tear shed in faith is wasted. The universe may seem silent at times, but the silence itself is the proving ground of faith. The man or woman who continues to believe, to seek, to strive toward the light even in the shadow — that one shall find the presence of God as surely as the dawn follows the night. The reward of such seeking is not gold or glory, but communion with the divine, peace that surpasses understanding, and purpose that gives meaning to all suffering.

So, my child, take this teaching to heart: do not demand to understand before you believe. Instead, believe so that you may understand. Begin each day as a seeker of truth, trusting that the same God who formed the stars also guides your path. Let faith lead your reason, and reason shall confirm your faith. Pray not for proof, but for the eyes to see what is already true — that the hand of God is at work in all things, and His plan unfolds for those who walk with Him. For indeed, as Rutherford proclaimed, before we can know God and understand His great plan, it is first necessary to believe — and to believe is to begin the eternal journey toward His light.