MAN'S POSSIBILITIES

Annie M. Knott

At this season, when thought turns so naturally to Christ Jesus, we remember with love and gratitude that he was the first to awaken the true sense of man's possiblities as a spiritual being. In the light of Christian Science we come to have an enlarged sense of the mission and ministry of the great Teacher, and we can best estimate their value to the world by recognizing their significance to ourselves as individuals. First of all he gave to the eternal fact of the divine fatherhood supreme importance, and linked to it the brotherhood of man. He declared a perfect Father, then maintained that His child must be no less perfect. He knew that others before him had held forth lofty theories as to man's possibilities, but he set himself to the heroic task of proving the truth of his own statements respecting man; and that, too, in the face of all human opinion, both religious and secular.

The world of Jesus' day believed, even as the many believe to-day, that man is material, and because of this belief history has been perpetually darkened by strife for the possession of all the materiality which could be grasped and held in the brief span of mortal existence. Jesus declared and proved the universe of Spirit by demonstrating spiritual law in the healing of the sick and sinful and in overcoming death. He thus proved that man is spiritual and governed by spiritual law,—the law which gives man dominion over himself and over the whole earth, though not over his fellow-men,—and he made clear the way to the attainment of this dominion when he said, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

Those who see God see good; they also reflect good and realize its sovereignty over all evil. If it be asked how far this teaching can be carried, we have but to remember Jesus' words, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death:" Never once did he in any wise limit man's possibilities, but maintained by word and deed his likeness to the infinite Father. The Master insisted that the divine fatherhood should be recognized by his followers, when he said, "Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven;" and we find Peter emphasizing the command, "Be ye holy; for I am holy," thus showing that whatever is possible to God, is possible to man as His child.

The practical significance of this teaching, when supported by demonstration was seen in the great changes brought about in moral conditions where Christianity was first accepted and lived. Had this continued, as it should, the world would long since have been freed from all discordant conditions,—all that does not represent the divine government. We may, therefore, rejoice that man's infinite possiblities have again been declared and the Science of the Christ made known by a clear-visioned prophet, so that these possibilities are being realized, not by a favored few, but by "whosoever will." When the clouds of material sense are rolled back, so that humanity can catch clear glimpses of God and His idea,—the infinite Father and His child,—then is found the true scientific basis for progress in every right direction, then are man's infinite possiblities grasped and realized. An ever-increasing volume of testimony goes to show that in Science and Health we have the chart and compass to this great attainment, which begins with healthful mental and moral conditions and extends to everything within the range of thought, until God is seen to be all—and all good possible to man as His idea. For this discovery and its beneficent results we return our heartfelt thanks, and set ourselves to the glorious task of proving that "with God all things are possible."

Annie M. Knott.

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