Are you sure?
This bookmark will be removed from all folders and any saved notes will be permanently removed.
Laying Hold upon Life
In talking to those who are seeking help in Christian Science, an expression of anxiety is sometimes heard in this wise: "I have been helped in Science so much, but there is one ailment that has not yielded, although I have striven hard to overcome it." This may he compared to the condition of one on a shipwrecked vessel, when a storm is raging. Efforts are being made to save the passengers, ropes are thrown out and all seem eager to avail themselves of the opportunity to be saved. But there is a poor man who seems to stay among the wreckage, and although he has one hand on the rope his main struggle is to keep above the waves and he seems to be at their mercy,—being tossed to and fro. In their efforts to save all, the rescuers at last notice that he is holding with his other hand to the wreck. Perceiving his danger, a shout goes out to him, "Let go the wreck; grasp the rope with both hands and you will be saved." He then does so, though with fear and trembling, and finds to his great joy that he does not go under, as he feared, but is steadily and firmly brought to safety. What if the waves do break over him once in a while? he is being rescued, and he knows it; his thought and effort are not divided as before, but are centered on holding the rope.
How often do we hold to conditions that fear and doubt bring to our consciousness, or to thoughts of self-love, self-pity, self-condemnation, and kindred errors,—all parts of the old wreck,—quite forgetting that we are thus delaying our complete deliverance from sin and sickness. Jesus' reply to the lawyer, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind," shows what we must all do to "enter into life." Material means to which we had trusted as our stronghold failed, when the storms of sin, disease, sickness, and sorrow swept mountain high upon our false refuge and wrecked hopes were all that remained. When the promise of Truth and Love was thrown out to us by Christian Science, how joyfully we grasped it. Here was rescue at last, and why cling any longer to that which could give no real assurance of safety?
God help us all to see clearly that we must grasp with both hands the life-line, the truth revealed to us in our great need, knowing that God, good, is the only power. By putting all our confidence in Him, all our trust in good, we shall not only reach safety, but rejoice in perfect freedom.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
March 3, 1906 issue
View Issue-
Salvation through Right Thinking
SAMUEL GREENWOOD.
-
Laying Hold upon Life
IDA W. STRAUB.
-
How Christian Science Taught me to Forgive
CARRIE TOWNSHEND.
-
The True Rationalism
J. R. Mosley
-
I have taken great pains to investigate and talk with persons...
William G. Ewing
-
Christian Science is a revelation, an unfolding to human...
Willard S. Mattox
-
It is true that Christian Science teaches that the cause...
Norman E. John
-
Be it fully understood that Christian Science heals purely...
C. Herbert Pierson
-
Christian Scientists are followers of him who taught the...
James D. Sherwood
-
His [Jesus'] was not book religion, but experience religion
George Burman Foster
-
Among the Churches.
with contributions from Hannah Matthes
-
The Lectures
with contributions from W. A. Gracey, Charles P. Burton, A. B. Keith, Sr., Francis J. Fluno
-
The Golden Age
JENNIE WALBRIDGE BRIGGS.
-
MRS. EDDY TAKES NO PATIENTS
Editor
-
The Sunday Schools
Lewis C. Strang
-
"A Religion of Deeds."
Archibald McLellan
-
Man's Native Element
Annie M. knott
-
The Board of Lectureship
Editor
-
Letter to our Leader
with contributions from Ira W. Packard, Irving C. Tomlinson, Mildred Gordon, Lelia L. Smith, Helen Bessmer, Caroline B. Getty, Lillian Young Charters
-
Christian Science first came to my notice nearly four...
John Fagersten
-
I became actively interested in Christian Science about...
Alice Brown Nathan
-
Years ago I was converted and joined an orthodox church
Elizabeth Gillis
-
A statement of what Christian Science has done for me in . . .
Jerome H. Brown
-
I am reminded of the first Christian Science service I ever...
Mary E. Burrows
-
About eight years ago I experienced a very wonderful...
Kate Stone Thompson
-
Christian Science has brought me so many blessings that...
Nellie P. Samuels
-
When I first heard of Christian Science I thought that...
Valeska F. Leopold
-
Gratitude for Christian Science urges me to tell of a...
R. M. Jackson
-
I wish to express my gratitude for Christian Science
Anna L. Donges
-
Notices
with contributions from Stephen A. Chase