Article May 25, 1929 Issue

The Gate Beautiful

KATHLEEN COOPER PIERCE

In the third chapter of the book of Acts we read of the healing of a lame man at the gate of the temple. Having been born lame, he was carried and laid daily at the gate called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered into the temple; and as Peter and John went up together to pray, he begged alms of them. Peter looked at him with compassion and said: "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk . . . and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength;" and "walking, and leaping, and praising God" he went with them into the temple. Peter gave the best he had—his understanding of the truth of man's being. He knew that, as it is said in the epistle to the Hebrews, "things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." His knowledge of this spiritual fact was the priceless gift which met the great need of the lame man.

The Bible declares that man is the image and likeness of God. One of the meanings of "image" is "a representation of anything to the mind." The real man is the representation of God, divine Love. Man is the true likeness of God Mary Baker Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 516), "When we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere."

In his spiritual vision, as recorded in the book of Revelation, John describes the new heaven and the new earth as the city that "lieth foursquare," adding: "And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. . . . And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth . . . or maketh a lie." Our Leader writes on page 575 of Science and Health, "This sacred city . . . represents the light and glory of divine Science." Those who have learned of the nothingness of material pleasures, who realize their lack of true happiness and their great need of God, good, are ready to be led to the beautiful gate of Truth, where, in the words of the Psalmist, "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures."

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Primitive Christianity
May 25, 1929
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit