Editorial October 10, 1931 Issue

Persistence

Duncan Sinclair

How glorious the day when first one glimpses the truths which Christian Science reveals! God is made known to him as infinite good; creation is shown to him to be spiritual and perfect; and man no longer appears as material and temporal, but is seen to be the eternal image or reflection of God. "A new heaven and a new earth" have appeared. Moreover, with the coming of the truth of Spirit's allness and perfection, matter and evil are seen to be false concepts of material sense, hence unreal; false concepts which, sooner or later, must pass completely away. What a wonderful revelation! The student rejoices in it, and gladly looks forward to the time when he shall, through demonstration, have cumulative proof of its veracity.

It is right that we should be joyful and grateful at the beginning of our career as Christian Scientists. It is right that we should experience gladness at the revelation of Truth which this Science brings. One wonders how it should ever be otherwise, especially when the revelation is accompanied by healing, which is so often the case. Surely there would be something amiss if someone who, perhaps for a long time, had been battling unsuccessfully with a belief of disease, failed to experience joy and to express gratitude on finding himself well after gaining an understanding of the healing truth through Christian Science. But let the beginning be ever so bright, to material sense there appears to be a long way and a narrow way to travel. So the student who is wise sees the need of persistence, perseverance, patience, from the very start. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 462) that "self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life." And does not James counsel to "let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing"?

In every phase of the Christian life we have Christ Jesus for our Ensample. "Jesus patiently persisted in teaching and demonstrating the truth of being," writes our Leader (ibid., pp. 136, 137). He had ever before him the goal of complete victory over matter or the flesh, and he steadfastly pursued his course towards that goal, continually applying the law of God to the problems which presented themselves. This was shown in the healings of disease and sin he brought about, in his mastery over the winds and the sea in storm, in his breaking, on more than one occasion, the deep sleep of death for others. Jesus continued persistently towards final victory over all material beliefs, and ultimately attained it at his ascension.

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