Article May 24, 1913 Issue

"OUR ETERNAL HOME"

W. PETCH.

Mrs. Eddy has said that we must all come to a knowledge of Truth "either by suffering or by Science" (Science and Health, p. 240). Lately it came very clearly to the writer that through Christian Science we do indeed learn, by present spiritual apprehension, that which the so-called outer world must eventually awaken to through prolonged human experience or sudden trial. For instance, we learn in Science that because divine Mind is our Life, our creator, our one and "only real relative on earth and in heaven" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 151), we cannot, either now or hereafter, be bereft of any of the real love and companionship which forever surrounds us. Jesus said, "Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Every spiritual idea, be it expressed in love, joy, peace, gentleness, any of the myriad thoughts of God, has its birth and eternal home in heaven, the kingdom of Mind, and the Mind of Christ may be expressed in all we say or do. Again, Jesus said, "Your joy no man taketh from you," emphasizing the permanent nature of all spiritual understanding and manifestation. It is evident, on the other hand, that without such knowledge of the ever-presence of divine Love, mortals do cling to a sense of human reliance and dependence as long as they possibly can, until in some way every earthly tie is severed, and they find themselves alone, with the whole world empty before them. This is the lesson of suffering.

In Christian Science this rude awakening is impossible, in so far as we have already learned to yield up the false sense of dependence in order to grasp or apprehend the infinite reality of spiritual life. When a Christian Scientist prays "Our Father-Mother God" (Science and Health, p. 16), he means that he really knows that which he affirms; that he is true to that which he professes, and that his prayer is an at-one-ment with the good that he declares, even as Jesus gave example. Hence the sweet assurance and certainty which are with every Christian Scientist today who thus understands the unity of the Lord's Prayer. Mrs. Eddy has said that this prayer "covers all human needs" (Science and Health, p. 16). It presents the highest possible human concept of life, and it fulfils all that the human sense has attained in glorified quality. Can we conceive of more than we find in the infinite Mind, our Father, our Friend, our All-in-all? Can we spare too much time in making clear to ourselves, through the prayer of understanding, the glory of Love's fulness? Jesus always reflected the knowledge of Life eternal, always worked from the basis of immanent perfection, and when we too have learned this lesson in Christian Science, that we truly possess nothing underived of God, divine Mind, and find all our treasures renewed to us as we consciously enter into the kingdom of spiritual understanding here and now, then we realize something of the significance of the words in Revelation concerning those upon whom "the second death hath no power," for through divine Love we have taken permanent possession of our own.

As Christian Scientists, should we not strive to improve every moment of our time in realizing our divine inheritance now, without waiting for the chilling blasts of earth to rouse us to this effort? The revelation of Christian Science, or life in Christ, holds out to each and all the glorious opportunity to make a fair, fresh start in the race of life, not in another world, but in this. Forgetting the shadows that are behind, we press toward that mental point where we ourselves must stand transfigured with Christ and all we love in Christ; and is not this elevation and satisfaction to be most speedily reached through our united services in furthering the spiritual activities and demonstration of the church of Christ on earth? Many have come to Christian Science and have thus found all things restored to them in their true substantiality, even as they were to Job. We cannot tell the mental pathway by which each one reaches this consummation, but we can know that when once they have reached this resting-place, they do hear those words of comfort and consolation which become to them henceforth the one great possession, the one lesson of Truth which indeed covers all human needs. There can be no fear of loss to those who hold their treasures as the reflection of unchangeable Mind.

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