Standing Firm and Rejoicing in the Truth

Duncan Sinclair

"No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." These words of Christ Jesus are recorded by Luke in the ninth chapter of his Gospel. How often they have rebuked the Christian Scientist when he wavered in his purpose, hesitated to go forward in the work to which he had set himself! No genuine Christian Scientist puts "his hand to the plough" before he has demonstrated to some extent the healing power of Truth as Christian Science reveals it; but having proved the efficacy of spiritual truth and had his faith in it thereby established, he takes up the healing work, earnestly desirous of making it a success.

The Christian Scientist must always be replenishing his store of spiritual truth. Take the case of a practitioner of Christian Science. He is frequently called upon for help by those laboring under some form of disease or sin. Probably he has to listen to much error, poured into his ears with, apparently, strong conviction. This calls for watchfulness on his part lest he accept the erroneous suggestions and thus fall a victim to them. He is enabled to be vigilant by keeping his thought in communion with Truth, whereby his knowledge of real being is sustained and replenished. Knowing Truth's allness and error's nothingness, he denies the suggestions of material sense. And in this way he helps those who seek his aid, the while he protects himself.

But error may seem persistent, and difficult to overcome. When the Christian Scientist encounters such a condition, he may have to put forth much effort to attain the clear realization of the truth necessary to overcome the error in the case on hand. That should not dismay him, however, for every effort after clearer understanding meets with certain reward: it never fails to strengthen, and even to rest one. As Mrs. Eddy writes on page 426 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "The struggle for Truth makes one strong instead of weak, resting instead of wearying one."

The experience of sincere students of Christian Science is that when they have been forced by a seemingly difficult problem to bend all their energies to solving it, this has resulted in their feeling stronger and more rested than before the special effort was made. They have affirmed the truth of God's ever-presence. They have known that the power of God is infinite and ever available to all who understand the fact of man's unity with God. They have realized that man is subject to God, and God alone. Thus, by holding steadfastly to the truth, and rejoicing while doing so, they have risen in some degree above the false material sense of things, and through the power of Spirit have experienced a corresponding increase of strength and health. Our Leader says (Science and Health, p. 249): "Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine 'powers that be.' Such is the true Science of being."

"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples," said Christ Jesus. That is what Christian Scientists, as followers of the Master, wish to do—"bear much fruit." And what a field, ripe unto harvest, lies before them—no less than the world! Sometimes we may think that we should confine ourselves solely to the work allotted to us in our branch church, that if we are doing that work well we are doing enough. Our branch churches are doing splendid service today in making known the healing truth and so bearing consolation and relief to suffering humanity; but individual members can often do far more than they do, as they stand firm for Truth and rejoice in their understanding: they can realize for the whole of mankind that spiritual truth which cleanses from all evil, that rests one even while it strengthens him.

The love of God is infinite; and all may realize that they are under its consoling, healing power. The work of the Christian Scientist is to bring the truth about God to mankind, and to realize it on behalf of all who come to him for help. In the midst of his labors, how often has that sweet prayer of gratitude of our Leader come to him, bearing inspiration for his work (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 275), "Father, we thank Thee that Thy light and Thy love reach earth, open the prison to them that are bound, console the innocent, and throw wide the gates of heaven."

Paul wrote to the Galatians, "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." We are certain that the harvest will be reaped; that, indeed, it is being reaped now. The day approaches when, through Christian Science, all men will acknowledge God's allness, and all evil seeming will have passed away. The harvest will then have been fully reaped!

Duncan Sinclair

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