Many have pondered Paul's words in his letter to the Romans, "To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace," with a desire to fathom their meaning and put them into practice. Many also have studied the words and acts of the Master, Christ Jesus, longing to have "more abundantly" the life which he came to give us, and marveling at the power he displayed in raising others, and finally himself, from the grave. But until the discovery by Mary Baker Eddy, in 1866, of the exact Science of Christianity, which shows the precise method underlying these mighty works, there seemed scant possibility of achieving similar results. With the restoration of primitive Christianity and the healing of so-called incurable diseases, the hope of more abundant life and the overcoming of death was revived.

Speaking of the fundamental point of the all-power of Mind, our Leader says on page 171 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Mind's control over the universe, including man, is no longer an open question, but is demonstrable Science. Jesus illustrated the divine Principle and the power of immortal Mind by healing sickness and sin and destroying the foundations of death." The revelation that man, in His image and likeness, is God's idea, the exact reflection of infinite Mind or Spirit, shows that the real man is spiritual. How could he be otherwise, since he reflects the Mind which is Spirit? Through this revelation we learn that we are not obliged to be carnally minded; in other words, obliged to believe in a fleshly mind, or a mind in matter. Thus, the meaning of Paul's words becomes clear, and we are in a position to set about "destroying the foundations of death" in thought and experience, both for ourselves and for others.

The foundations of death, so called, have to be destroyed in one's consciousness; and this is done by establishing there the understanding of Life, God, thereby healing sickness and sin. As one's consciousness becomes permeated with the understanding of Life, those beliefs which make up the claim of death fade out, and with them disappear the mortal fears and physical ills which have followed in their train. In this way thought is constantly increasing in spirituality. We must definitely understand that man, the real man, exists now and always at the point of perfection. He needs no ascension, because he is eternally experiencing the bliss and freedom of infinite Life, in which he has his being. But this fact must be applied in human experience, and to do this intelligently is the aim of every honest student of Christian Science.

To learn to live according to the commandments of Christ Jesus, and the rules of Christian Science, is to destroy "the foundations of death." We cannot indulge in all sorts of material beliefs, be dominated by the human body, and then expect with one grand effort to banish death. In her marvelous article "Is There No Death?" in "Unity of Good," Mrs. Eddy points out the chief stumbling block in the way of dealing with this belief, where she says (p. 43), "The present mortal sense of being is too finite for anchorage in infinite good, God, because mortals now believe in the possibility that Life can be evil." If one believes "that Life can be evil," and Life is God, then he believes that God, good, can be evil; and is not this what mortals do believe? Has the mistaken theory that God creates good and evil, or at least knows evil and permits it, been discarded?

We learn in Christian Science of the healing effects of gratitude, and that we must be grateful for Life, Truth, and Love. But while we are believing that we have any cause for complaint, fear, or anxiety, and do not see all discord as entirely illusory, are we not virtually believing "that Life can be evil," and being ungrateful for Life? To realize Life as illimitably, endlessly good, and man's life as completely spiritual, is the only way to be grateful for Life and happy in expressing it.

Not only must a dread of the grave be overcome, but also any desire to die. Belief in death as an escape from problems, a surcease from misery, is an ingrained belief of the human race, which scholastic theology has done nothing to dissipate, but much to foster. There is no excuse for this attitude except a misunderstanding of Christ Jesus' teachings. Any sense of failure and defeat is a close companion of the belief in death. Discouragement, if indulged, and also self-pity, lead in the direction of death rather than Life. Any belief that man is in matter argues a belief that he must get out of it. According to mortal mind there is only one way of doing that. It argues that, since one is born into matter, so must one die out of it. To overcome these false beliefs may seem a gigantic task, but it not only must eventually be accomplished, but can be accomplished; and we are not asked to take more than one step at a time. Here and now we must cease to admit the thought of failure and defeat, for if we give our consent to these falsities we are believing that God is not omnipotent; and what a lie that is! We must accept the statement of Christ Jesus, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." We must see through and beyond the belief in death; we must give it the lie in no uncertain manner.

The claim of old age is supposed to be insurmountable and incurable. This is something which needs to be drastically handled. Crabbed, unlovely old age! What an ugly, unnecessary picture! Those who understand to some extent the freshness, fragrance, and spontaneity of true being cannot accept the arguments which produce an unbecoming and wearisome old age. Just as the infant seems a picture of physicality and helplessness, so the belief of old age, if not destroyed through the understanding of Truth, may assume a similar appearance, accompanied by selfishness and fretfulness.

In the abundant life to which Christ Jesus showed us the certain way, there is no lack of any sort. When analyzed, death is seen as some phase of lack of the understanding of Life, of the fullness of Life, or Spirit. We must learn truly to live, instead of merely to exist. For one who knows something of the Science of Life, living is very different from what it is for one who, as yet, knows nothing of it. For instance, it is not wise to indulge hobbies at the expense of spiritual growth. All right activity belongs to God and must be seen in that light, whether it is church work, public practice, or what may appear to be a mere errand. Life cannot be divided. Life is One, because it is God, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and nothing exists outside of Life. We are not mortals one minute and God's ideas the next. Neither do we exist as two entities—a mortal and an immortal. In the reality of our being we are God's ideas, created, constituted, sustained, and governed by Him in perfect harmony. Our thinking, followed by acting, must proceed from that standpoint.

Our beloved Leader writes in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 19): "The spiritual sense of Life and its grand pursuits is of itself a bliss, health-giving and joy-inspiring. This sense of Life illumines our pathway with the radiance of divine Love." Here we come to the crux of the whole matter—divine Love. How much of the strength, solace, rest, and joy of divine Love are we experiencing? How much are we letting it outweigh all else in our daily experience? Can any of us deny that at times we fail woefully in this respect? Let us honestly acknowledge our failures and resolve to be better. Christian Science points out the one way to demonstrate the truth about health, supply, position, home, courage, or any other necessary condition.

In our real, spiritual self we lack nothing. Because this is true, we must gain a balance on the right side, bringing out our real identity, sowing with the spiritual senses and silencing material sense. "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." If our crop of blessings seems a little thin, let us examine the quality and quantity of our sowing. It is also essential to remember that, while declarations of Truth carry untold power and results, it is only as we use our divinely reflected qualities day by day, draw on them in all our contacts with our fellow men, that the joy of the fullness of Life becomes our constant companion.

How much the beloved John knew about Life and its reflection! The writings of John are as spiritual floodlights thrown upon our path to show us the way of Life. Over and over again it is emphasized by him that Love is Life; and that hate leads to death.

Let us also watch that we are not deceived into expressing what may be termed diluted forms of hate, such as dislike, indifference, apathy toward our brother. We must be perpetually and impartially active in our expression of Love. The harder it seems to reflect Love, the greater the triumph as this is accomplished. Then are we soldiers of Christ indeed. Then are we reflecting that power against which death has no weapon—the Christ, which has "led captivity captive."

Eternal life is our gift from God. As we use it each day with joy, blessings before unimagined will be ours; the conscious power of endless Life will clear away all obstacles in our onward path, and we shall inevitably overcome our own belief in death and raise the dead, because we shall have ascended from belief in matter to the consciousness of spiritual reality.

Copyright, 1938, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.