It is quite natural for anyone, observing the present state
of the world, to feel very depressed and apprehensive of the future. Any
intelligent person must be wondering what you are wondering. It is indeed hard
to see what lies ahead of us in the near future—but we, as Bahá’ís, unlike most
people, have absolute assurance that the distant future is serene and bright.
We do not know if there will be another Great War; what we do know is this:
that unless people become spiritually awakened in time, great suffering, maybe
in the form of war, will come upon them, for humanity must be unified, must be
redeemed. If men refuse absolutely to take the easier road of faith, of seeking
out God’s Manifestation for this age and accepting Him, then they will bring
upon themselves a fresh crisis in human affairs and very great affliction. What
we, as Bahá’ís, must do is our duty; we cannot do other people’s duty for them,
alas, but we can fulfil our own sacred responsibilities by serving our
fellow-men, living a Bahá’í life, teaching the Faith, and strengthening its
budding world order.
He urges you, just as you have surmounted the crisis in your
own life, through faith and courage, to now go out and serve the Cause with
that same faith and courage. We must leave to God the final reckoning with His
creatures today—but meantime we must give them His Message.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter
dated 20 September 1948 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer; ‘Unfolding Destiny’)
