Article November 6, 1926 Issue

"No half-way stations"

EMMA H. SAYLES

One of the most encouraging statements in Scripture is that given in the one hundred and fifth psalm, where, in speaking of the children of Israel, the Psalmist says, "He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes." As we ponder the promises in the Bible, we find that God does not promise anything less than perfection, whatever the human need may be.

When we have gained a better sense of health, a better sense of honesty, purity, joy, and loving-kindness, or a better sense of supply, thinking we have reached our limit of good, we may, however, sit down to rest satisfied, ceasing to work to know more of God and His unfoldment of right ideas. There is nothing, possibly, in this wide, wide world that mortal mind loves quite so well as the sign "Rest a while," with some comfortable cushion of ease in matter provided for our use, and hearing the suggestion whispered in our ear that as we have plenty of time ahead, we may linger a bit in the pleasures of the senses, amidst unfinished problems, or, work less strenuously, since the goal is only just around the corner after all, and when we have once started, we can easily catch up with those who have passed us on the way. But who has not learned that this is only one of mortal mind's lies, and that there are no stopping places along the way of spiritual progress? If we stop, the debris of error is sure to accumulate, so that afterwards we shall have to climb and climb, and often with tears and struggles, even to get within a long distance perhaps of where we were before.

In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" Mrs. Eddy says (p. 260): "Science is divine; it hath no partnership with human means and ends, no halfway stations. Nothing conditional or material belongs to it." The attainment of the divine state of being may appear to us as yet afar off; but there is no reason for either discouragement or condemnation if we are keeping step in spiritual progression. We may not win the victory the first day or the next, or even the next again; but we are striving, and success comes only through sincere effort. Does not our precious Leader assure us (ibid., p. 203) that "a deep sincerity is sure of success, for God takes care of it"?

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"No half-way stations"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access