Article November 2, 1918 Issue

Decision

IDA T. DAVIS

During the earthly experiences of Jesus, there were many wonderful demonstrations in which quickness of decision had an important place. When the tempter came to him and offered him material inducements if he would bow down to evil, or materiality, Jesus replied very readily, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." There was no temporizing, no evasion of the point at issue. He did not stop to consider his own sense of comfort or human need, but quickly and calmly dismissed the evil suggestion. At the close of the conflict we are told that "angels came and ministered unto him." Later on Jesus saw the two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, and said unto them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Here again there is recorded the most wonderful perception of the great good which had come into their lives, for they immediately left their material possessions and followed him.

One may find great inspiration in the Scripture accounts of quickness of decision on the part of those who were following truth. When once the light flashed into the consciousness of those who came into contact with the truth, it was in proportion to their readiness to lay aside other interests and to give first place to the business of serving God that they were blessed and sustained. As "God is no respecter of persons" this will be the experience of every one who can and will take sides with God. Mortal mind is prolific in supplying reasons for delay in taking a stand for Christian Science, and with the army of its workers to-day. Many are seeking to get the benefits derived from the truth but at the same time shutting themselves out by listening to the more or less plausible reasons, from a human viewpoint, why they should not do their part in lessening evil, by correcting and rebuking evil in their own individual consciousness. This is no time for dreaming, and we cannot forever remain neutral. After one has become convinced of the truth of Christian Science and that it is really meeting the human need, there is only one thing to do, and that is to follow the example of Jesus who said substantially to every material appeal, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" Paul, when he saw the truth, humbly and instantly said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" The keeper of the prision, also, who saw the manifestation of divine power, in that same hour took his place in the ranks of those who were seeking to bring this wonderful truth to all mankind.

In this day of warfare and human suffering it is certainly of great importance for us to decide where we stand. We cannot be on both sides of the question. On page 177 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy, in most emphatic terms, asks those who are half-hearted and lukewarm in zeal, "What will you do about it? ... Will you doff your lavender-kid zeal, and become real and consecrated warriors?" One of the most common inclinations of mortal mind, alias mental laziness, is to be willing to let some one else do the work, and to listen to the lying suggestion that some one else is more capable. Now, when our boys enlist in the Army or Navy to fight for human freedom, they make themselves capable as fast as possible to fill any and every position assigned them. Can we, then, who have a knowledge of this higher and more complete freedom do less? We would not expect anyone else to learn the multiplication table for us; nor could we think it possible for another to digest our food for us. It is just as self-evident that no one else can know God for us. We all have positive proof that the promised reward goes hand in hand with honest effort, and those who would keep that freedom to worship God, for which our forefathers fought, those who really long to see the will of God done "in earth, as it is in heaven," must decide quickly and become active in thought and deed, thereby becoming efficient in the art of overcoming evil with good, admitting only those things which will make for goodness, for purity, and hence for freedom from all evil within and without.

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