Article April 9, 1910 Issue

HAVING DONE ALL—STAND!

ALICE EDMUNDS.

In the Christian warfare in which all mankind is called upon to take part, it would seem that today, just as when St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, the great and often the final test of individual strength of character is seen in one's ability, after "having done all, to stand." When meeting a seeming difficulty, to counteract which all measures have been taken, in so far as one understands, and yet the battle is not won, the problem seeming to remain unsolved, one may be tempted to act as a hireling of material sense, who flees when thus tempted, instead of standing firm and unmoved as a true representative of God. He may be inclined to give way to discouragement, doubt, or fear, or at least to lag behind in the race.

The late Dr. George Matheson of Edinburgh refers more than once, in his writings, to the much greater difficulty, as he deemed it, of having to "walk, and not faint," as compared to "run, and not be weary." He thought the very appearance of inaction in the first case made it a severer test of a man's faith. This is illustrated in the instance of the psalmist, who, despite the spiritual insight which convinced him of man's absolute dominion, covering all untoward conditions of mind, body, or estate, as depicted in the 23d, 37th, and 91st Psalms, etc., still in Psalm 55 despairingly writes: "Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. ... Oh that I had the wings of a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest." His lack of courage, of faith in God, seems so complete for the time being that his one dominating wish is simply to shirk all further responsibility, and "fly away."

Though this man rose again, and undoubtedly proved his real individuality as a son of God, the very fact that such as he could fail to stand in time of tribulation should serve to show us the vital necessity of safeguarding ourselves by having on that "whole armor of God" which Paul describes in his epistle to the Ephesians. With this spiritual armor individually appropriated, we need have no fear of failure, for man's God-given ability to remain unshaken under any circumstances is already assured, and proved beyond all question in the life of Christ Jesus, our Wayshower. From the beginning to the end of his short but triumphant demonstration of the spiritual method of meeting and mastering disease, sin, and death, though tested and tempted to the utmost in every conceivable way, he unflinchingly stood until he had proved the supremacy of spiritual law. On page 275 of our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, we read: "All substance, intelligence, wisdom, being, immortality, cause, and effect belong to God;" and as it was quite evidently the incentive of this knowledge which enabled Jesus to withstand every temptation to ascribe power to material conditions, just so must it inspire us, his followers, to do likewise.

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