"Arise up quickly"

GEORGENE L. MILLER

Mortals are prone to procrastinate. Even when they have, in a measure, "put off the old man with his deeds," and learned something of the power of Truth to overcome error, they are still inclined to think they must wait for the realization of their hopes. As the poet expresses it, "Man never is, but always to be blest."

In the account of Peter's release from prison, as given in the twelfth chapter of Acts, it will be noted that the message of his angel was, "Arise up quickly," Peter was not loosed from his chains, and then told to wait until daylight to rise up and walk out. Divine Love saw no chains; and there was nothing to keep Peter from immediate obedience. This is only one of the many instances related in the Scriptures where it is made quite plain that there is no provision in the divine plan for procrastination in healing. The "word of God is quick," as well as "powerful." The healings of Jesus were, almost without exception, instantaneous. How could it be otherwise? Does not Isaiah say: "The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him . . . and shall make him of quick understanding"?

Should not we also, as followers of the Nazarene, possess this "quick understanding"? One of our difficulties is that we think we must wait. In the Scripture sense "quick" also means "alive," "awake," "alert"; but it is not until some emergency confronts us that we awake to the availability of instant realization. Were we always alive or quick to this, our demonstrations would more frequently be instantaneous. We have all experienced instantaneous healings, or received instantaneous help, at times; but in the daily round of material duties in office or home we often fail to claim our right to instant demonstration. To put it in another way, we fail to bring every thought into captivity to the truth.

One illustration of this immediate availability was given to a student of Christian Science while working in a government office during the war. This office was cooperating with the Department of Justice on war matters; and in one room there was kept a confidential file of papers under lock and key. A clerk had charge of this file; and it was her custom to hide the key in a different place each night, the place being known only to herself. One day, when she was absent from the city, an officer of the Department of Justice came in to consult this file; but nobody appeared able to find the key. During the excitement of the search the student entered the room. Noting the commotion, she inquired the reason; and the situation was explained to her. This, by the way, was the first she had heard of this file. Aloud she said, "If you need that key, it can be found." Then she began to work mentally, declaring that all things are known to divine Mind, and that as man reflects omniscience, whatever man needs to know he can know instantly. Immediately, she was impelled to cross the room to a desk by the window. On it was a small dictionary. She opened it, and between the pages was a key. Picking it up, she turned to the man in charge and said, "This is the key you want, isn't it?" The man was much astonished; and, it must be admitted, so to some extent was the student. Yet, why should we be astonished at that which is natural to man as the image of divine Mind? Why should we be surprised at the all-power and omniscience of Mind?

Jesus did not wait for the tribute money. He knew instantly where to find it. He did not search for the "large upper room" referred to in Mark. He knew it was there waiting for him. He once said to his disciples, "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him;" or, as Mrs. Eddy puts it in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 390), "'Agree to disagree' with approaching symptoms of chronic or acute disease;" and this could apply equally to discord of every kind. In other words, we are not to wait for the "adversary" to present his arguments and suggestions; but we are to annul these suggestions at once by knowing and declaring the omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience of God, good. In order to do this, however, we must constantly and continually "stand porter at the door of thought" (Science and Health, p. 392); for there is no other door through which evil suggestions can enter. If we are guarding that door faithfully, and admitting only good thoughts, "the angels of His presence" (Science and Health, p. 174), we shall find ourselves free from the "chains" that would claim to bind or restrict or hinder our instant obedience or response to the voice of Truth. Thus we are able, not only to cast out, but to prevent the entrance of every thought that gives fear, or which would limit or restrict our ability in any right direction, or would tempt us to believe in a power apart from God; that is, in any power that can hold back the instant realization of joy, peace, plenty, freedom, health, harmony, activity, and all other "fruit of the Spirit."

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