Article November 22, 1924 Issue

His Presence

WILLIAM A. GILCHRIST

Times of yearning for access to God's presence—the presence of unchanging good—come now as they always have come to every human consciousness. Is not the Bible one long record showing how men may come into His presence, and how they may apparently bar themselves form that presence? Said Job in his affliction, "Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!" And who is there that has not uttered Job's longing?

The statements that God is good and that God is omnipresent are generally accepted as true; but there are many misconceptions as to their full import. A belief prevails that God dwells in heaven; that heaven is a locality entirely apart from this earth; and that the means of access to heaven and God is through physical death. This belief is as old as the belief in material creation; and it is held notwithstanding the fact that the Scriptures declare death to be an enemy to be overcome. Accompanying this belief is another, namely, that God communicates with men through supernatural messengers, called angels. Prayers are made to God imploring Him to do good acts, which it is admitted He has full power to do but yet may leave undone.

When Mary Baker Eddy discovered Christian Science, a truly wonderful revelation on the subject of God's omnipresence, as well as on the subject of angels, was given to humanity. Good is defined by her on page 587 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as follows: "God; Spirit; omnipotence; omniscience; omnipresence; omni-action." God is good, and is omnipresent. It therefore follows that because good is everywhere present, there can be no place at all where evil, the opposite of good, is present. The statement is so logical that, manifestly, not to accept it is but to cling to a false belief. God, divine Love, is therefore everywhere, always. What a healing, saving message to mankind this is!

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