Editorial December 24, 1927 Issue

Good Cheer

ALBERT F. GILMORE

THE human heart is ever in need of cheer. Under the weight of materiality, the erroneous beliefs which encompass mortals, it becomes heavy and despondent, unless it be illumined by the light of understanding, understanding of the truth about God and man. Contemplation of the purposelessness of material existence would fall like a dark shadow across our path, were it not for the cheer which pervades consciousness when a ray of blessed truth shines through. Then can we say to the misgivings and forebodings, which would depress and discourage: You are not true. Because God, good, is infinite, you are not, and you cannot mar my joy.

It was in consideration of the trials common to human experience which Jesus foresaw that his beloved disciples would encounter, that he was prompted to declare to them with immeasurable compassion, yet with full confidence, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Manifestly, the Master's words, by implication at least, conveyed the assurance that his disciples would be able to rise above the burdens of material sense, overcome all difficulties which might block the way, and partake of the glory which he had inherited from the Father. He knew that "the prince of this world" would be overcome through the gaining of the Mind of Christ; and in the consciousness thus purified spiritual blessings would unfold "from glory to glory."

The burden of the Master's words and works was to hearten and encourage mortals. He relieved them of their sorrows through healing them of sin and disease. He brought the light of lasting joy into darkened lives. To the man sick of the palsy he could say, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee;" and he that was sick was healed. What, indeed, could more surely cheer the sick than to gain their freedom from sickness through forgiveness of their sins? We learn in Christian Science that our sins are forgiven when they are forsaken; and forsaken, that is, destroyed in thought, their effects in terms of sickness also disappear. Christian Scientists are learning of the priceless freedom to be gained in the way the Master prescribed, through the destruction of sin and the correction of erroneous beliefs. The world of materiality is being overcome, and cheer supplants despondency and heaviness of heart.

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