Devotion to God involves implicit obedience to His revealed
Commands even when the reason for these Commands is not
understood. The sailor implicitly obeys his captain’s orders,
even when he does not know the reason for them, but his acceptance
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of authority is not blind. He knows full well that the
captain has served a thorough probation, and given ample
proofs of competence as a navigator. Were it not so, he would
be foolish indeed to serve under him. So the Bahá’í must implicitly
obey the Captain of his Salvation, but he will be foolish
indeed if he has not first ascertained that this Captain has
given ample proofs of trustworthiness. Having received such
proofs, however, to refuse obedience would be even greater
folly, for only by intelligent and open-eyed obedience to the
wise master can we reap the benefits of his wisdom, and acquire
this wisdom for ourselves. Be the captain never so wise, if
none of the crew obey him how shall the ship reach its port
or the sailors learn the art of navigation? Christ clearly pointed
out that obedience is the path of knowledge. He said:—“My
doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do
his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God,
or whether I speak of myself.”—St. John vii, 16–17. So
Bahá’u’lláh says: “Faith in God, and the knowledge of Him,
cannot be fully attained except … by practicing all that He
hath commanded and all that is revealed in the Book from the
Pen of Glory.”—Tablet of Tajallíyát.
