The Pulpit Speaks: November 12, 1960

An article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.

“For he looked for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Unrest is the key to human behavior today. All about us people in all walks of life are constantly grumbling about conditions. Nobody is satisfied. Individually, locally, nationally, and universally men are looking for a way out. All about us people are looking for a way out. All about us people are looking for something to move them from their dilemma.

This is not something that has just happened! Men through countless ages and generations have sought a better way. Many times this search has only resulted in frustration. Men, in spite of their best efforts. have fallen far short of the goals they have cherished. This is nothing new in the annals of human behavior. Men historically have longed for goals that would put an end to their difficulties. Today is no exception!

The rising tide of men’s frustrations down through the years is voiced by the author of the book of Hebrews. In the same token of thinking, there is evidence of men working within the framework of faith. Hope against hope has been the stimulating point for men of vision. Believing that they had the answers to their problems, many men have launched out into the darkness, moved only by faith.

Maybe unrest is a healthy state of affairs. Maybe we need a feeling of insecurity in this life. Maybe we need something to happen to us daily to make us mindful of our shortcomings. It is at this point that we need something beyond and outside of ourselves to enable us to realize our fullest potential. It is at this point that the writer of Hebrews paints a picture of those faithful down through the years who have been motivated to reach for a state of existence designed only by God.

Long years ago, the greatest aims of men have been the same as we seek to achieve now. Thinking men have always sought to have peace – externally and internally. The only way that this can be realized is through working with God. These men mentioned in the book of Hebrews have always sought to make worthwhile contributions to their day.

One of the most tragic things to happen to any man is wrapped up in the fact that he loses the desire to want to be. Here in this book we see men who, against all odds, sought to make a contribution. In a like manner today, if we are ever going to realize the God-designed state of affairs, we must work with and through faith. Each man living today must have some great impulse to make him want to see a better day. This better day will be realized only through men of dedication and well-meaning.

Each man of each generation realizes his contribution to the overall program of making this a better world. We cannot do very much as individuals but we can, through our small efforts, hold the line until men’s eyes are opened to the great cause of making this a better world. The sooner one realizes this, the better will be the universal lot. Each one of us is important. Each one of us is making an impact upon the life of someone. This impact can be either negative or positive. The impact we make upon the lives of people will either make them better or worse. Each one of us should try to make our impacts positive.

The ever reaching out of people to achieve a state of existence will make for the final realization of the dream men have held for so long. The only path through which the realization of a world designed by God will ever happen will be wrought through the dedication of dedicated men.

Recently I have come in contact with a man who believes in a purpose for or behind everything. Every movement one makes should be made in the interest of being a better person and, thereby, making a better world. Finally, only to the extent that we, as individuals, make ourselves better will we be able to make the world better. Nothing short of this will suffice. The salvation of this world will be wrapped only when men, filled with a zeal to achieve, will do so with all of their hearts.