Article December 8, 1923 Issue

Man's Relation to God

SUSAN MOORE BULL

"Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine," said the loving father of the prodigal to his elder son; and in these words he gave a succinct and comprehensive statement of man's relation to God. All the gifts, all the joy of companionship, all the opportunities for righteous bliss and activity, belonged to the son who was ever with his father. His was a continuing inheritance, a constant walking with his father in right thinking, and in the peace that his younger brother had forfeited by temporarily severing his connection with his father. The latter had wandered forth to taste of the worst misery, only to return at last in humility to find his father's attitude one of continued love and generosity, unchanged during his mistaken journey. The best was still his, and in abundance! It had been there for him all through his absence. He had only to turn from the swine and the husks, and approach his father's house, to have the joyous proof that "before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."

The parable of the prodigal son describes a common experience that is a result of the human misunderstanding of a most vital fact,—namely, man's unity with God. This unity between God and man cannot be severed by any wandering which one may be tempted to do. There is no quality of thought able to separate God and man, divine Principle and its idea. Mrs. Eddy explains this relationship, saying in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 361), "As a drop of water is one with the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father and son, are one in being." Fear, doubt, lack,—all the phases mortal belief assumes in its deceptive role,—ultimately drive mankind to the understanding of man's unity with the Father. We must prove this relationship by remaining steadfastly with God when temptation comes.

Christ Jesus understood best of all man's true relationship to God. "I and my Father are one," he said; and his mighty works proved that he never forgot this fact for an instant. His understanding of this unity, of man's true inheritance, enabled him to turn the water into wine, feed the multitudes, take the tribute money from the fish's mouth, and raise the so-called dead. Because of his comprehension of man's oneness with the Father, from whom he had allowed no mortal suggestion to separate him, he was able to heal those absent as well as those present. Jesus was the great Exemplar, in whose path we must follow, learning of our infinite inheritance and our infinite opportunities; for we, too, as God's children, are ever with the Father and all that He has is ours.

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