Article April 1, 1933 Issue

"Love never faileth"

JOHN RALPH GRIFFITH

"Love never faileth" (Am. Rev. Ver.). How dear to the hearts of Christian Scientists is this wonderful statement! The understanding of it is as an open door to spiritual achievement through which the Christly message of healing comes to the sick and heavy-laden. As one gains a better understanding of God's tender care for His children, thoughts of fear and failure begin to diminish; and, eventually, they disappear.

A student of Christian Science recalls a time when he found himself in a valley of despair, striving to outlive a severe illness pronounced by the medical profession to be incurable; when pressed by suffering and fear it seemed as though evil would claim supremacy. To this sufferer and to the loved ones who stood by, it seemed that all help had failed. But thanks to Christian Science a glimpse of the Christ, Truth, then appeared. The light came to him in the darkest hour, bringing the comforting assurance that "love never faileth." The student has since learned that the awakening came through spiritual thoughts, the "angels of His presence" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 512). One after another these healing thoughts from God unfolded to his consciousness the glory of Love, bringing strength, joy, confidence, and an ascending realization of God's perfect man. Thus the seeming darkness of a mental night was destroyed by the dawning rays of spiritual understanding, and a new day dawned, of unprecedented promise. It indeed proved the truth of Mrs. Eddy's words (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 276), "Out of the gloom comes the glory of our Lord, and His divine Love is found in affliction."

There was an occasion when Jesus' disciples failed to heal a lunatic boy. The case was referred to the Master by the boy's father, who said: "Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him." It is recorded that Jesus straightway healed the boy. When seeking instruction of the Master regarding their failure to heal this case, the disciples asked, "Why could not we cast him out?" Jesus replied: "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

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