Article August 20, 1927 Issue

"Go through the gates"

BERTIE M. SMITH

Throughout the Bible there are many references to gates. In Isaiah we read, "Go through the gates;" and in Revelation, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may ... enter in through the gates into the city." The city which lies within the gates is a symbol of reality; while that which is without is a symbol of unreality, or error. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, has written in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 505), "Understanding is the line of demarcation between the real and unreal."

Understanding is, as it were, a gate between reality and unreality. Without understanding one would be unable to pass from error to truth. Our journey is not ended when we arrive at the gate: we must go through it. And this journey from sense to Soul, like any other achievement, must be accomplished in an orderly fashion; and, of course, the gate must be reached before it can be entered. The first step, therefore, is to gain understanding; for then we are ready to take the next step, namely, to use our understanding.

A faithful study of the Bible in connection with Science and Health and Mrs. Eddy's other writings will lead us up to the gate; but to enter we must put into practice what we have learned of the truth. It is they who "do his commandments" who have the right to enter. So to go farther we must use this understanding in solving the everyday problems with which we are confronted.

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