Article June 23, 1923 Issue

"Thy will be done in earth"

MARY LOUISE FERGUSON

For many centuries earnest Christians uninstructed by Christian Science have striven to obey God's will; but it has been the general conviction that it is impossible to obey God's commands entirely here on earth; that only in "heaven" can complete obedience to God be demonstrated; and that heaven can be reached only through what is believed to be the experience of death. Jesus, however, refused to admit any such limitations. He recognized that man, as the perfect reflection of God, is capable of having and of doing all good; for God has given man dominion over all things. He said, "That the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do;" and, "I do always those things that please him." He also declared that whoever recognized and was willing to obey the Christ, Truth, which he taught and practiced, should do not only the works which he did, but also even "greater works than these."

Christ Jesus realized that the only way to prove one's conviction as to the truth of anything is through obedience to its teachings. So, in that wonderful prayer which he gave to mankind, and which covers every human need and aspiration, he taught his disciples to see and demonstrate true loyalty here upon earth. He declared, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." In this beautiful and inspiring statement he opens for all mankind the opportunity to prove, here and now, the unreality of all discordant conditions, and the supremacy of all that is good. He shows that we cannot idly wait with complacently folded hands to be pushed into heaven, or for heaven to be brought to us; it is absolutely imperative that we begin at once to demonstrate something of heaven for ourselves, for "now is the accepted time." Only in so far as we are willing to prove all things for ourselves can we enter upon the true way of salvation. No belief in a godless power called death can help us to work out this salvation. Jesus proved death to be unreal, an illusion of so-called mortal mind. It is, therefore not a dread power to be submitted to, but a false belief to be overcome and destroyed.

True loyalty and allegiance to God are expressed in the desire that men shall learn here on earth to obey the will of God. True loyalty means that obedience is a duty which men owe to God,—that is, an ability, a God-bestowed privilege or gift, to prove all that is good and beautiful, to attain and retain the truth, and thus destroy all evil, all discord. It is the proof that accompanies the earnest, sincere effort to obey God.

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