Editorial December 23, 1939 Issue

"It doth not yet appear"

George Shaw Cook

THERE are two passages in Scripture which contain substantially the same message. One of them is found in the first epistle of John and is as follows: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." The other passage is from Hebrews, and reads: "Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him."

The foregoing Scriptural passages both indicate that while spiritual man is now the son, idea, or image of God, this fact is not yet fully apparent to human beings. It is, however, a fact which has been discerned in greater or less degree by spiritually-minded persons in all ages, but which is clearly seen only as the mists of mortal thinking are dispersed by the rays of immortal Truth. In proportion as one's thought is dematerialized one becomes aware of the fact that he is, and has always been, in his true selfhood, the son of God.

The fact of spiritual sonship was so clear to Christ Jesus that he always referred to God as his Father, and never called any man by the name of father. He even said to others, "Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." And yet it seems easier for mortals to agree with this statement of the Master than fully to grasp its marvelous import. In other words, one may accept and declare the fatherhood of God, but to gain demonstrable knowledge of that fact is quite another thing. This was doubtless appreciated by John when he wrote, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be."

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