God is Reflected in Good

BRIGMAN C. ODOM

It must be clear to any one who thinks about it that the effect of God, good, as the only cause, must be good; in other words, that God, good, is reflected, or that He expresses Himself, only in good. God, who is infinite good, is by His very nature "of purer eyes than to behold evil." He is ever the same good Father-Mother God, "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning," whose spiritual ideas—children—are all the manifestation of good.

If one is unselfish and loving, he will bless others with his affection. On the other hand, if he is resentful and hateful, he cannot possibly be expected to be a blessing to any one. While good should be seen and emphasized as infinite, it is highly important that the claims of evil shall not be overlooked, but shall be dealt with scientifically. Some religionists teach that evil is real, and hence look upon it and its effects as a necessity. Christian Science teaches that evil is unreal; insists that evil is not God-ordained, and therefore that it has no real value, no power. The point is that if one gets the divine viewpoint of a question to start with, and sticks to that and follows it up logically, good—and only good—will come of it.

One may be tempted of evil and pursued by the belief in its reality, but if he refuses to entertain it he has the assurance of God's protection. The writer to the Corinthians declared: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." But if one starts out from a false basis, believing that mortal existence is real, he will find error in all his conclusions; and little devils (evils), and big ones too, will apparently haunt his footsteps.

Christian Science teaches one not to look for frailties and weaknesses in others, but instead to know God's man. It shows him how to lift up the pure and good in his thought; and this pure and good thinking spiritualizes and renews him, thereby also transforming and upbuilding his body. As Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 62): "The divine Mind, which forms the bud and blossom, will care for the human body, even as it clothes the lily." The pure in heart see God; that is, they express here and now a healthful state. It is not, however, to be inferred that because one here or there manifests "a thorn in the flesh" he is entirely evil, and is not therefore reflecting in some degree love, joy, and peace.

Paul, it is said, manifested some infirmity; yet he raised not only those dead in trespasses and in sins, but also those who were considered physically dead as well. It will be seen, therefore, that the pure in heart are not limited literally to little children; nor does it follow that because one is of a mature age, and has wandered into forbidden paths, he cannot regain his childlikeness. All can do so by being "converted," by being changed; and so can become in spirit as a little child. To do this, it is plain that one must empty himself of vainglory and vain knowledge. He must renounce selfishness, as well as all forms of evil, in order that purity, godliness, and the truth which Christ Jesus taught, may come in and uplift his mental state. Thus he will be improved and rejuvenated, and will become a new creature, wherein old things pass away and all things to him become new.

That sort of life is not transcendental and impracticable; it should be the normal state for one here and now. The Scriptures approve it; and Christian Science recognizes it, and makes it practical for daily living. It is, therefore, the duty of the Christian Scientist to prove the utility and practicality of Christian Science teaching, and not merely to talk it; for it cannot be said that Christian Science is uncertain in its results when rightly understood and applied; and certainly it never fails, for Christian Science reveals the truth,—the truth about Life, which is Spirit and perfect, and which has no mortal or material expression. God, good, is immortal. He cannot fail; it is the human sense or the mortal view that seems to fail.

In the world of so-called mortal existence there appear to be many minds, many widely differing beliefs, many conflicting personal opinions. Human personalities may walk arm in arm and communicate with one another, although their views of God and His creation may be leagues apart, if indeed they have any well-defined concept at all of God, good, and His manifestation. However that may be, in the realm of Spirit, which is infinite, the spiritual idea is perfect; it is of God, good, and is expressed in good. As Mrs. Eddy tells us in Science and Health (p. 516): "God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence."

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