Article January 23, 1926 Issue

"Patient continuance"

KATE E. BUCK

In his epistle to the Romans, Paul speaks of those things which must needs follow the way of the evildoer, and contrasts them with the sure rewards which come to those who, through "patient continuance in well doing," have earned the right to recognition as followers of the Christ. Present-day disciples of the master Christian sometimes feel that the seeming struggle is greatly prolonged, and that their earnest efforts to hold to good and reject evil are poorly rewarded. Yet Jesus could afford to wait, and without impatience, never doubting ultimate victory. Persistent striving is certainly essential; and however long the way may seem to be, whatever of loneliness, discouragement, and fear may assail us, it is the way the Master trod, the way of every great and earnest one who, through faithful endeavor to overcome and live above the troublous human sense of things, ultimately finds his way into the Father's house. The Father's house is the sheltering spiritual consciousness of peace and freedom, where one can abide despite the clamorous voices of material sense, which would argue that everything worth while was being left behind.

On page 22 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy, who knew every step of the "thorn road," has written: "If your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race. When the smoke of battle clears away, you will discern the good you have done, and receive according to your deserving." All who have striven to lift their heads above the mystifying mortal experiences know something of the smoke of battle; but they also know that there is but one way out, and that is to go forward in faith. Faith in the triumph of all that is good, and hence of God, is an all-powerful weapon whereby one may vanquish discouragement and fear. There is also "the sword of the Spirit" with which to destroy all beliefs in the reality of matter and dependence thereupon. If we turn back we are not fit for the kingdom, nor can we find God in doing so. That would only mean retaking our forward steps at some future time.

Jesus said, "I am the way;" and, "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Then the way he took is the way for all mankind; and when one catches even a slight glimpse of the approaching glory, apparent sacrifices become as nothing, and the roughness of the way is quite forgotten. It is gain and not loss; it is discarding temporal things to find those which are eternal; it is "beauty for ashes" and "the oil of joy for mourning." Only through acquiring the Christ-consciousness can we enter into the "secret place of the most High." There is no other open door; and only through honest self-surrender, which is requisite in order to pass through this door, can one gain sufficient courage to be patient and to continue in well-doing.

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