Article December 28, 1929 Issue

"Arise, let us go hence"

JAMES C. THOMPSON

After Christ Jesus had given to his followers the promise, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also," he further stated that the Father would send "another Comforter." After this he said, "Arise, let us go hence." Mary Baker Eddy, our Leader, referring to the Comforter, on page 55 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" states, "This Comforter I understand to be Divine Science." And she also says (ibid., pp. 574, 575): "Then thought gently whispers: 'Come hither! Arise from your false consciousness into the true sense of Love, and behold the Lamb's wife,—Love wedded to its own spiritual idea.' " To rise above materiality should be the goal of every individual.

A steamer rising in a lock to a higher level furnished a student of Christian Science with much food for thought. When the ship is in the lock, it is completely hemmed in; and to a passenger on board, ignorant of what is actually taking place, the situation presents a picture of helplessness. While still in the lock, the inflowing water raises the ship higher and higher, until presently, having been raised to the necessary level, it can go forward and successfully free itself from the narrow bounds of the lock. Without the rising process, due to the intake of sufficient water into the lock to lift the ship up, it could not possibly go forward.

Every human problem, rightly solved, leads thought to a higher level; and it is impossible to attain the higher level except by solving our problems. It is thus we escape from hampering beliefs. Therefore, their solution is of great importance. On the road from sense to Soul problems may be regarded as signboards bearing the word "Arise." To human sense, our problems hold us in the lock of mortal limitation, until spiritual understanding raises us to a higher level of thinking and we are fitted to take the next step upward. Every earnest student of Christian Science knows that no honest effort is lost, even though mortal mind, so called, argues that the student is at a standstill. Persistent effort and confidence continue to lift us higher spiritually; and when our thinking has been sufficiently exalted, problems gradually cease to baffle us. Therefore, regardless of what material sense may affirm, we can go forward with rejoicing.

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