Article September 25, 1937 Issue

Sealing the Victory

FRANCES LESLIE HARRIS

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 43, 44) Mrs. Eddy writes, "Truth and Life must seal the victory over error and death, before the thorns can be laid aside for a crown, the benediction follow, 'Well done, good and faithful servant,' and the supremacy of Spirit be demonstrated." To establish beyond question the fact of the supremacy of Spirit is the challenging task that confronts us today in Christian Science. While to the physical senses, persistently testifying to the authenticity and power of matter, such an achievement may seem impossible, the fact remains that since Spirit is God, final victory is not only possible, but inevitable.

The implication of the passage cited is that Spirit, God, is already supreme. Nevertheless, until that which is true is understood and demonstrated, the warfare between Truth and error, scientific fact and sense evidence, will continue, and mankind will experience the apparent conflict between good and evil. Just as Columbus had to prove the falsity of a general belief before he could substantiate the fact that the world is round, and thus push back the limitations set by ignorance and fear, so each one must, through understanding and demonstration, prove the impotence of sin, sickness, and death in order to establish the eternal fact that God is supreme. Only to the extent that we thus magnify the name of the Lord in our daily experience, can we put aside the thorns of suffering for the crown of rejoicing; and only as this change gradually takes place can we finally lay down the weapons of our warfare against evil, and abide in the everlasting victory of good.

It is well to keep uppermost in thought the fact that this battle with evil which all on earth must wage is not a conflict against a foe or a power equal with God. Instead, it is a struggle with erroneous belief, which inevitably yields when steadfastly confronted with Truth. The Christian Science practitioner realizes this and, when faced with sin or sickness, attacks the problem in much the same manner as does the wise mother in comforting her little one who is terrified by a ghost. Recognizing its mythical nature, the mother does not summon physical aid to annihilate the ghost. Neither does she allow the child's belief in its reality to instill fear into her own heart. Instead, she simply knows the truth about the situation and through tender, compassionate love replaces fear with confidence and darkness with light, until the child no longer believes in the reality or power of evil, but is conscious only of good. So the Christian Scientist uses no material means to effect a healing of discord, whether it be of a physical or a mental nature, nor is he overwhelmed by "a sense of the odiousness of sin" (ibid., p. 366). He sees ill-health, lack, or inharmony of any kind, not as a reality, but simply as an accuser which would unjustly condemn man and rob him of his rightful freedom and heritage. The understanding of evil's falsity inspires courage, eliminates fear, and enables the healer to glimpse the true man in God's own likeness. Such a view of man ratifies the unity between divine Principle and idea, and healing follows.

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Sealing the Victory

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