Article May 31, 1919 Issue

Christ, the Light

NELLE B. BEARDSLEE

The first mandate of God, "Let there be light," has no small significance to him who is working his way out of the darkness of materiality through the unfoldment of spiritual reality. When "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy was first given to the world,—indeed, each time since then when the sick or heavy-laden children of men have turned to it, it has been as if the angel of God stood by with the same command, "Let there be light." For the Science of being which this book reveals is the very light of lights,—that blessed truth, the Christ, which centuries ago so illumined the thought of the man Jesus of Nazareth as to enable him to cast out the darkened sense of sin, sickness, and death, and to declare, "I am the light of the world."

In Science and Health (p. 503) the author speaks of this light as the first presentation of "the idea of God," which is followed in the order of unfoldment by "reflection," and then by "spiritual and immortal forms of beauty and goodness." Webster defines light as "the essential condition of vision." According to this it is self-evident that divine Mind's first presentation of its idea would be in light, for without "the essential condition of vision" further revelations of Himself would be inconceivable.

What is this light? We know it is not the light off physical sense, a property of matter, since it proceeds from infinite Mind, Spirit, which knows no matter; indeed, it must be the very opposite of matter; it must be like the Principle from which it emanates; hence it must be spiritual. These words from Science and Health (p. 504) elucidate this point: "The rays of infinite Truth, when gathered into the focus of ideas, bring light instantaneously." Those who have had healings in Christian Science have experienced the proof of this statement; for by the understanding of the perfection of God and of man as His image, spiritual not material, the light of Truth destroys the false sense of sin or sickness. The coming of the light is the advent of the Christ in human consciousness, outwardly manifested in healing. So also do the rays of Love, one with and inseparable from Truth, flooding the once darkened chambers of selfishness and hate, give added proof of the presence of the Christ, for "he that loveth his brother abideth in the light,"—the light in which alone he can always see his brother as lovable. Indeed, in this light he is unable to see him as other than lovable and perfect. Even a slight awakening to the light of Truth and Love assures us beyond the shadow of a doubt that this light is verily "the essential condition of vision," without which, as the prophet of old stated, "the people perish."

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