"Love never faileth"

[Original article in German]

JOHANNA DEUTSCHMANN

In times of revolutionary upheavals it is of the utmost importance that the demands of progress be met. A German poet says, "The old falls, times change, and new life blooms among the ruins."

In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, when hard times had come upon the children of Israel, their departure into Babylonian captivity had taken place, and the disintegration of the whole Israelitish race from within and without seemed inevitable, Love's comfort was voiced by the prophet in the words, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Certainly many of the priests and leaders had neglected to comply with God's law in word and deed. They had not foreseen that the halfheartedness of the greater part of the populace could entrain such appalling results. Yet in the face of the loss of money, property, nationality, and perhaps of those dearest to them, the prophet continued to voice the comforting words: "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart, . . . saith the Lord." This was more than human love could comprehend. However, even though at first reluctantly, the people of Israel did listen to the message. In humility they perceived that idolatry, pride, sensuality, self-righteousness, malice, envy, hatred, and revenge had not been conducive to the prosperity of the nation. So they strove more earnestly to obey the laws of Moses; and some of them returned to their homes after seventy years of captivity.

It was Love that about six centuries later sent to mankind the Messiah, Christ Jesus. Since then God has not been wholly veiled from men in the darkness of the belief that He was a despot from whom they would rather keep away than to whom, as Love, they would draw near. Through Christ Jesus He was revealed as infinite good, infinite Spirit, ever-presence, the fond Father of His beloved children.

With never-failing love and unfaltering patience Jesus taught his disciples the divine truth, and prepared them for their mission. Through his ministry Love fed the hungry, healed the sick, and raised the dead. Jesus' forgiving love bade Zacchaeus, who sought to see him as he passed, "Make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house." Even to the penitent malefactor on the cross his love promised, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

This salvation awaits all earnest seekers in the teaching of Christian Science today. This practical teaching shows us how to understand and apply the love which "seeketh not her own," thus laying aside the human beliefs of a limited God and opening consciousness to pure affections and higher aims. On page 9 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes: "Dost thou 'love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind'? This command includes much, even the surrender of all merely material sensation, affection, and worship."

Involuntarily the reader asks himself: Have I not for a long time had need to utilize this God-given rule, to become a new man, and to give up the old for the new? Is this at all possible? Do not men have to die first? Certainly not! It is true we must renounce our old habits, for in the Psalms we are admonished, "To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart." The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science in rich measure expressed the love that "never faileth," and in this way possessed the power and intelligence to overcome every obstacle which was presented.

We too have started on the course of true progress and are leaving the old behind us, a spiritual understanding enters our daily lives, and love is being expressed in deed. On page 201 of the textbook we read: "The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love. Christian perfection is won on no other basis."

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