Article April 6, 1929 Issue

Overcoming Temptation

MARTHA M. YORK

Earnest study of the Bible in the clear light of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, with a sincere desire to adhere to the divine Principle therein revealed and to assimilate the spirit of Christ, Truth, gives an understanding of God and of man's relationship to Him, which brings protection and guidance in overcoming all temptations. The simple story of Noah's building of the ark, and of his subsequent experiences leading to his final deliverance from the flood, studied in the light of Christian Science, is an illuminating help to the student in overcoming the subtle suggestions of mortal belief. In her textbook our Leader gives us the inspired definition of "ark" (p. 581), in part, thus: "Safety; the idea, or reflection, of Truth, proved to be as immortal as its Principle." Continuing, she declares, "The ark indicates temptation overcome and followed by exaltation."

We find that Noah built the ark according to divine command and pitched it "within and without" to make it safe. The word "pitch" as translated in Strong's Concordance means, figuratively, "atonement"; and surely the gaining of a demonstrable understanding of man's coexistence with God guides thought into right channels, protects against the tempests of mortal beliefs, and carries one in safety over the troubled waters of human experience up to the mountain peak of spiritual understanding. Through individual right thinking every student may build this ark. Everything needful for this mental building is supplied, and the directions are plainly given in the Bible and the writings of our Leader.

A subtle temptation of to-day is that of studying writings purporting to elucidate our Leader's works, under the fallacious claim that to do so is being broad-minded, or that the demands of Christian Science are too exacting. The danger attending the study of these spurious writings is that they may seem to have a blending of truth and error. In reality, truth and error never mingle; and any such seeming blending, instead of enlightening, bewilders thought. As the raven sent forth from the ark by Noah went "to and fro" but brought back no message of hope or safety, so the confused thought finds no resting place in the day of temptation.

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