"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"?

Of one thing we may feel sure, that the thought which has ascended to spiritual desire has already entered into its covenant with ever present good, is already being fed, nurtured, sustained, and supplied by divine reality, and can never leave the Father-Mother, Love, from whom it came. It sprang from divine Mind; it lives in Mind; and it will eventually claim no other home, no other hope, but will, like the elder brother, Christ Jesus, maintain its origin and its aim: "He was come from God, and went to God"—the All-in-all of existence.

Well do we know that the angels rejoice whenever a thought begins to unfold its wings for heaven—for at-onement with divine reality; and as do the multitude of stars in the firmament, so shall we find our individual places in this all-embracing Mind, which is divine Love. The bigness of the Father-Mother heart, the tenderness of the Father-Mother love, its all-encompassing compassion, forgiveness, patience, its ever ready, untiring willingness to blot out all our iniquities and to remember only our virtues—these thoughts are always present, comforting and sustaining.

We are all prodigals, returning one by one; some perhaps are a little farther ahead, but all are practically proceeding by the same route, for there is no other. As we journey together, be it slow or be it fast, may we learn to sing praises to our Father-Mother God, songs of triumph over some evil overcome; songs of joyful expectation of good yet to come. And may we never loiter by the way, but ever courageously, cheerfully, joyfully march forward, lifting our eyes to behold the Christ-idea—this Christ-idea, which will eventually permeate so-called mortal consciousness to the latter's extinction and to the resurrection of that which really is now, and forever shall be, present, needing only to be claimed and utilized. This babe, or infant thought, is being continuously born; and angels are to-day proclaiming, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Can we be grateful enough that as Christian Scientists we have had it made plain to us that we have found the way, the way trod by Christ Jesus and again revealed to this age through our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, whose selflessness, faith, obedience, and spiritual love we have as yet only faintly perceived? Christ Jesus established his unity with and place in the kingdom of heaven, and could bid his disciples come. He said, "I go to prepare a place for you . . . that where I am, there ye may be also." This place, where all shall dwell together, is the place to which faithful Abraham and Isaac journeyed so long ago, and the place to which we of to-day are journeying—the kingdom of heaven that is within.

"Press on, press on! ye sons of light,
Untiring in your holy fight,
Still treading each temptation down,
And battling for a brighter crown.

"Press on, press on! still look in faith
To Him who conquereth sin and death:
Then shall ye hear His word, 'Well done.'
True to the last, press on, press on!"

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit