Lasting Peace

CECIL C. BONHAM

Today , as in Jesus' time, there appears to be great unrest, social and economic. Asleep in the Adam-dream of materialism, the world is feverishly seeking for peace. That real peace is not to be found by looking into the material world was understood by Christ Jesus when he said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." That humanity does not yet generally understand what constitutes peace is obvious, for over and over again nations of the world become involved in wars, strikes, and various conflicts. Truly, it is not yet universally known among men that "the government shall be upon his [Christ's] shoulder."

As always, the material world is suffering from the effects of believing that man lives in and by matter; that it sustains his very existence. Through this false belief, mankind is driven to selfishness, dishonesty, domination, and crime. In exact opposition to this belief is the truth which Christian Science reveals, namely, that the real man lives, moves, and has his being in ever-present Spirit, where harmony is unfailing, and that matter is unreal, an illusion, unable to provide mankind with anything substantial.

Obviously, then, if we would be at peace, our real need is not to acquire more matter, but more true wisdom. We need the knowledge of God which Christ Jesus possessed, and which was later discerned and given to the world by our Leader. Mary Baker Eddy proved that this understanding is the pearl of great price by her wonderful demonstration over disease, lack, and the world's hatred. She looked to God, good, for everything and constantly urged her students to do likewise.

Our wise Leader knew that if one looks to mortal mind, to personality, or to material laws to overcome war and strife, he must eventually be disappointed, for the material world is only a counterfeit of the true, and the one real remedy for all the ills of mankind lies in spiritual thinking. Only as thought is based upon divine Principle, Love, and becomes humble and childlike, willing to listen and learn from Spirit, and through this listening exchanges self-love for selfless love, matter for Mind, and false beliefs for right ideas, will war cease and peace become universal.

Spiritual understanding brings peace. War is the result of ignorance. The belief of many minds, some good and some bad, some wise and some ignorant, some strong and some weak, has darkened our mental vision, until we are almost overwhelmed with the desire to look for someone to arise and govern the world with supreme wisdom.

Oh, deluded world! God, our loving, all-wise Father, is always governing His image, man, and the invisible but ever present spiritual universe in perfect harmony. Infinite Love supplies man's every need through His inexhaustible ideas. Principle is constantly supporting man, and he always reflects Life, health, and perfect intelligence. Man is never separated from his spiritual source.

There is but one Mind, and we have only to let this Mind be in us to know the truth. Mrs. Eddy has stated in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 340), "One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.'"

The peace which is attained by human methods is at best only temporary. Since it is not based on the allness of Spirit, good, and the nothingness of matter, it disappears at the first suggestion of material loss, or selfishness, and greed and hatred again seem to take possession of thought. Human laws are necessary to protect mankind from unbridled selfishness, but the dishonesty in mortal mind will always find a way to evade or to break them. Spiritual law can never be broken. Selfishness and dishonesty can never break God's law, for in the realm of Spirit they do not exist.

Eternal peace can be gained only by learning to know God and by conforming to His law. This knowledge may be obtained by anyone "without money and without price." In the Christian Science Reading Rooms authorized Christian Science literature may be read or purchased, and Christian Science services are likewise free to all.

Our hearts should be filled with gratitude today that true peace can be obtained individually as well as collectively, and that no one need be deprived of it. The illusion of unrest may seem very real to the personal senses, but we need not accept it. Mrs. Eddy has said (ibid., p. 306), "Undisturbed amid the jarring testimony of the material senses, Science, still enthroned, is unfolding to mortals the immutable, harmonious, divine Principle,—is unfolding Life and the universe, ever present and eternal."

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Love Provides Abundantly

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