今天我們要展開一段新的旅程。這段旅程將要提示我們必須採取甚麼樣的步驟，然後才能夠從迷惘走到信靠，或者是從恐懼走到信心。毫無疑問──至少對我來說是這樣──我們正面對人類歷史其中一個最重要的時刻。地球上數以百萬計的人都感到極其困惑。他們不能肯定政治領袖和科學家是否知道自己在做些甚麼。最近其中一件給人帶來極大打擊的事情──愛滋病這種可怕的疾病──正在給世界各地造成越來越大的恐慌。無論我們從哪個角度去看我們的世代，都會發現似乎有些事情崩潰了，生命似乎懸而未決。

我們此刻正面對的問題是：身為神的百姓，該如何懷著信心平靜地行走人生道路？我們能否發現一些公式，可以在我們走過這個患病和混亂的世界崎嶇不平的山坡時，雙腳不致滑倒？我相信是有的，而那公式在哈巴谷的預言中清楚顯示。雖然哈巴谷在開始他的書卷時感到全然混亂，但今天的經文讓我們看到，在結束的時候他卻充滿了信心。

哈巴谷怎麼樣發現那公式，讓他在走過他那個時代的崎嶇路段時可以好像鹿子一樣步履穩健？我們在未來的日子會找出這個問題的答案。不過，在我們開始以前，容許我先給你一個建議：不要急於得到答案，因為尋找的過程越深入，最終的發現越能令人歡欣鼓舞。

Today we embark upon a journey that will reveal the steps we must take in order to move , or from fear to faith. There can be no doubt, to my mind at least, that we are facing one of the most momentous times in human history. Millions of the earth's inhabitants are bewildered. They are not sure that the political leaders and scientists know what they are doing. One of the most recent scares to hit humanity - the dreadful disease "AIDS" - is causing growing consternation in all parts of the world. However we look at our generation, something appears to have snapped and life is left dangling at loose ends.

The question that faces us at this hour is this: How can we, as God's people, walk through life with confidence and poise? Is there some formula we can discover, that will prevent our feet from slipping and sliding as we traverse the rocky slopes of this sick and confused world? I believe there is - and that formula is brought clearly into focus in the prophecy of Habakkuk. Although he begins his book in utter confusion, he ends, as we see from our text for today, in a spirit of abounding confidence.

How did Habakkuk discover the formula that enabled him to walk with the sure-footedness of a deer across the rough terrain of his times? We shall discover the answer to that question in the days to come. Permit me to give you a word of advice, however, before we start: don't be too anxious to find that answer. For the deeper the search the more joyous the eventual discovery.