Article September 20, 1919 Issue

"The Lion of the tribe of Juda"

LOUISE KNIGHT WHEATLEY

In the fifth chapter of Revelation we read of a book "written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals," and the Revelator goes on to say that he "wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon." But presently one of the elders said unto him, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." What is this "Lion of the tribe of Juda," we perhaps wonder, which had power to prevail when all else failed? Since the Bible to be correctly understood must be spiritually interpreted, how natural it is to turn at once to that dear companion, ever close at hand, which is indeed a veritable key to hidden treasures, our beloved textbook; and there we find our answer, on page 514 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. "Moral courage is 'the lion of the tribe of Juda,' the king of the mental realm."

How beautifully it all unfolds as we ponder it more deeply and recognize the indisputable fact that he who would break the seven seals of error's utmost effort and read, as in an open book, "things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world," must indeed possess that kingly quality which enables him to roam the mental realm as its master. What Christian Scientist, in fact, has not already proved this, to some extent; for who of us has not, at some time or other, been placed in a hard situation, a trying position, an embarrassing predicament, from which there seemed for the moment no possible way of escape? That so-called mind, which is always enmity to God, likes nothing better than to get mortals into "a tight corner," as the saying is, and then stand off and laugh at them. "What are you going to do about it?" it seems to say; and, to tell the truth, we hardly know, so bound hand and foot do we seem to be by the invisible chains of fear, uncertainty, and irresolution. No matter where we turn, it seems impossible to take a single step in any direction. Yet as we stand there, praying for wisdom to know what to do, it begins to dawn upon us after a while that the one thing needed to break our bonds and set us free, is moral courage.

Following this conviction, quickly comes the realization that no matter how much mortal mind may be laughing at us, there really is a way out after all. If this were not so, would not the one All-power be powerless on some occasions? Divine Love has always and under all circumstances provided "a way out;" let us never forget that. So, as we look about us, gathering fresh courage now from our confidence in God's willingness and ability to help us, a strange thing sometimes happens; instead of seeing no way out at all, we now see two ways,—a right way, which looks like a hard way, and a wrong way, which seems to be a very easy way. The question now arises, Which shall it be?

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