The teachings of Christ Jesus and of Christian Science leave the student in no doubt that the kingdom of heaven is not won without persistent effort and willing self-surrender. It is to be observed that, even according to human reckoning, no outstanding career has ever been consummated without steadfast labor, whether in the realm of statesmanship, art, commerce, or any great enterprise. How much more, then, is demanded of those who set out to understand and live the Science of Christianity! Here is required of them the dedication to their task not only of every talent and energy, but also of that which men call character, the willingness to bring into captivity every trait and habit which does not make for Christlikeness. In this connection we read in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 3), "To understand God is the work of eternity, and demands absolute consecration of thought, energy, and desire."

Insistent, often inexorable, are the demands and the sacrifices exacted of those who are public servants; but side by side with these demands the individual may often feel himself free to indulge weakness of temperament, or to ignore standards of conduct which do not appear directly to concern his career. Indeed, he often believes that the exercise of human will, of questionable methods which outrival the astuteness or competitive skill of others, and partiality of judgment in connection with those he thinks of as friends or enemies, are profitable steppingstones to achievement.

The master Christian made it perfectly clear, and every statement in our Leader's writings serves but to emphasize this point, that those who would accomplish spiritual greatness must first be willing to set on one side all that is selfish and impure, all that is dishonest and unkind, and that the measure of their accomplishment, whatever may be the world's temporary esteem, is in their approximation to that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus."

Jesus chose the line of consistent self-sacrifice, and left it as an example to mankind. "I am the good shepherd," he said: "the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." But he made it perfectly clear also that that which he laid down was only the temporal, material sense of things, that he might lift up the spiritual and eternal. He laid down a material sense of life that he might take up the true sense of life, proved eternal and untouched by the malice and hatred of his enemies, which tried to destroy it.

The material sense of life which Jesus laid down, was given up willingly. "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself," he declared. For the Master knew that in the gigantic task which he had undertaken, it was not possible defeat but certain victory, not submission but overcoming, which lay before him. From the beginning of his career, this great shepherd of the sheep must have seen how fraught with infinite purpose was the task which he had set himself, how desperate was the need of a Saviour on the one hand, how bitter the opposition on the other. He was faced with suffering, humiliation, crucifixion; the derision of his enemies, the loss of confidence of his friends. It is recorded of him that he "pleased not himself." And the outcome was to be the greatest triumph the world has ever seen.

The career which the Christian Scientist has entered upon, whereby every "thought, energy, and desire" must be brought more and more consistently into line with Truth, may know temporary setbacks, seeming loss and failure, but it is the only career which can be certain of permanent achievement, of an all-satisfying reward, of actual triumph. The desire to prove great usefulness, to wield power and influence, to win high honors, drives men forth into competition with their fellows and brings them either temporary triumph and exaltation, or failure and discouragement. But the measure of their real achievement is always the measure of their willingness to emulate "the good shepherd" to serve humanity, even to the laying down of their most cherished desires and ambitions, of those weaknesses of character which are so easily indulged, so reluctantly cast aside. Paul the apostle must have had many fierce strivings to overcome pride, human will, and personal ambition, yet he kept the high goal steadily before him. "For I determined," he declared, "not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." This was the lesson which Paul knew he had to learn, and he consecrated his whole career to its accomplishment.

Our Leader, however, saw further than did Paul. She saw that what Christ Jesus had done for mankind in laying down and taking up a human sense of existence was not the hallowing of suffering. He had laid down a mortal sense of life, that he might demonstrate eternal Life. The purpose of consecration is always that Truth may ultimately conquer. It is the triumphing of good over evil, of Love over hate, of Life over mortality. Therefore it is that, in commenting on Paul's statement, Mrs. Eddy has written (Science and Health, p. 200), "Christian Science says: I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him glorified."

Evelyn F. Heywood