Through the understanding of God which Christian Science gives, an ever increasing number of people are proving for themselves that divine aid is always available to meet the human need, whatever it may be. It is true that God is ever the same; that He has ever been available; that in the past, and long before Mrs. Eddy discovered Christian Science, men had recourse to Him in their trials and received His compassionate aid. It is true that Christ Jesus, long centuries ago, utilized divine power in a truly marvelous fashion, through his understanding of God and divine law. But never until Christian Science was given to the world was it made clear how anyone might scientifically avail himself of the power of God, and not on certain occasions only, but at all times.

Christian Science teaches that God is infinite Mind. Because God is infinite Mind, He must be omnipresent—everywhere present. Christian Science also teaches that God is good. It follows, therefore, that good is omnipresent—everywhere present. And since God, good, is everywhere present, the opposite of good—evil—is in reality present nowhere. In other words, evil is unreal. Let the one who would understand how divine aid is always available become convinced of these truths, and he will not long remain ignorant of the divine process.

Now, mortals believe in the reality of both Mind and matter, good and evil; and because of this, they find themselves sometimes subject to good and sometimes subject to evil. Indeed, while they may experience a measure of joy and happiness in their lives, they are often the victims of a great deal of suffering, mental and physical. And suffering will continue to afflict mortals, in belief, until human thought becomes so enlightened spiritually, through Christian Science, that God, good, divine Mind, is acknowledged as the only real substance and presence, as the only real power. Recognizing this, Mrs. Eddy could write (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 483), "Mind transcends all other power, and will ultimately supersede all other means in healing."

The immediate effect of a clear realization of the omnipresence and omnipotence of Mind is well known to Christian Scientists. Many a time this realization has saved them from what looked like impending disaster; many a time it has lifted them above the seeming obstructions of physical sense; many a time it has swept away the illusion that evil is real, that disease is real, and healed them of these erroneous beliefs. Divine aid is always available to those who through Christian Science have obtained an understanding of omnipresent perfect Mind.

In Isaiah it is written, "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Do not the words tell of the instant availability of God to help? How tragic, that men will continue to believe that man is separated from God, sometimes as by an unbridgeable gulf! But it is not so. God is Mind; and man is Mind's idea. Therefore man is inseparable from God, good. To see this clearly, to realize it when necessary, is to secure immediate divine aid, to avert disaster, to find one's self delivered from disease or sin. It may not be difficult to admit theoretically that God is Mind, that man is Mind's idea, and that in consequence man can never be separated from God; but it sometimes needs much prayer, much humble correcting of thought, to get the clear realization of these truths which annihilates the illusory beliefs that hold mankind in bondage.

Christ Jesus declared that it is impossible to serve God and mammon. Christian Science teaches that we cannot serve God, Mind, and matter, and expect to receive divine aid. But is not this what many, even many who call themselves Christians, are trying to do? It is this divided thought, this divided allegiance, which is responsible for the fact that so many prayers appear to be unanswered. Mrs. Eddy speaks very strongly of this when she writes on page 182 of Science and Health, "Mortals entreat the divine Mind to heal the sick, and forthwith shut out the aid of Mind by using material means, thus working against themselves and their prayers and denying man's God-given ability to demonstrate Mind's sacred power."

Nothing will ever alter the fact that Mind and man are inseparable, and that man reflects the intelligence which gives him the dominion of the son of God. We must cultivate this understanding; we must demonstrate it. We must use it to rise above the sorrowful, sinful, suffering beliefs of mortal existence, even above all its tribulations. Man is never forsaken by God; our real spiritual selves are ever "in the bosom of the Father." Scientifically to know this will enable us to prove the availability of divine aid at all times.

Duncan Sinclair