"Be ye sure of this"

Violet Ker Seymer

Spiritual assurance sees the light through the clouds, the peace above all conflict. When Christ Jesus sent his disciples out to preach and heal, he gave them an instruction applicable both to themselves and to those who at that time rejected their message: "Notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." One may say that the disciples were young in the practice of healing. In their journeying they would be faced with apathy and animosity toward the message they brought. They would need to keep out of the pitfalls of fear, false responsibility, condemnation of others or of themselves, fear of failure in their mission, and so forth. These arguments and many others confront the active Christian Scientist today. He too must be absolutely certain that "the kingdom of God is come nigh." Being certain of this, he will not yield to the oppression of personal problems or world conditions. He will know that Truth's victory is beyond question, and that it includes healing and redemption.

In his eagerness to save the early converts to Christianity from backsliding, Peter wrote to them, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." He too emphasized the spirit of the Master's message: "Be ye sure of this . . ." Spiritual diligence is our infallible weapon of self-defense. To the Christian Scientist, diligence means noting and complying with the demands of Christian Science. It means radical reliance on divine Mind in all that relates to spiritual inspiration, fidelity, strength, joy, wisdom, healing. Diligence involves steadfast affirmation of spiritual reality and denial of every phase of evil. There is no exception to this rule of affirmation and denial.

Affirmation must be reserved for the real. For instance, one cannot truthfully affirm that one is a prey to fear, resentment, distrust, or selfishness, for there is no truth in them; and so long as these errors of belief are affirmed and voiced, they are likely to be indulged, if not willfully, then helplessly. And this separation of thought from the real is not the way of spiritual assurance. Every affirmation of evil is a denial of good, and every affirmation of good is a denial of evil.

Spiritual assurance is the kernel of scientific demonstration, and immortal Mind inspires and sustains this assurance. "The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." God testifies to His own infinite perfection in cause and effect, and there is no truth in any evidence which is not related to "the testimony of the Lord." Everything spiritually true is simple, unadulterated, consistent. Evil is complex and self-contradictory.

Mrs. Eddy writes (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 60), "Christian Science is the only sure basis of harmony." She faced with unwavering calm the ignorance, scorn, and malice of the world to which she presented the revelation of Christian Science. She was sure of her ground. Not one of her followers has to face what she faced, and not one can fail in any right endeavor if he always utilizes the power of God with spiritual assurance, as did our Leader.

"The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure." Of what use are these sure commandments to us if we do not obey them? Unless "verity and judgment" abide in our consciousness, the temptation to accept the belief that we are humanly vacillating, impetuous, fearsome, irresponsible, causes us to voice the very failings which we profess to deplore. In this there is no sureness, no sense of Principle, no good result.

Whereas Christian Science says, Be ye sure, material sense silently urges, Be ye doubtful. But what is material sense? A myth, a lie, something never actually whispered, heard, or heeded. No myth approaches the consciousness of spiritual man. The kingdom of heaven is not in mortal mind, and mortal mind cannot rob us of this kingdom or of spiritual dominion without our consent. We discern the kingdom within us through undivided love of good, which never doubts the certainty of reward. "To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward." Spiritual sureness is not a condition of thought to be wistfully coveted; it is to be spiritually demonstrated through the constant, confident expression of the power of good. This good is bounteously expressed by all that God made, "and without him was not any thing made that was made." Spiritual reality is invincible and demonstrable.

When our supreme aim is allegiance to divine Principle, we shall also be true to our divine selfhood, and shall take rapid forward footsteps in obedience to the law of infinite spiritual advance. To be true-hearted is to be sure-footed. Mrs. Eddy wrote to the students of the December, 1905, class (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 254), "You will reap the sure reward of right thinking and acting, of watching and praying, and you will find the ever-present God an ever-present help."

Violet Ker Seymer

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Heaven Is at Hand

October 10, 1936

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