Editorial December 14, 1940 Issue

Vigilance

Evelyn F. Heywood

Vigilance to the Christian Scientist does not indicate the menace of danger, but consciousness of safety. He knows that in spiritual alertness to the law of divine protection he can face any conspiracy of evil forces arrayed against him, with quiet confidence.

"Could ye not watch with me one hour?" Jesus asked his disciples, and added, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." Entering into temptation is an open door to danger—it is acceptance of the belief that outside of spiritual knowing, which relies wholly upon Mind for wisdom and direction, there is immunity from evil. Entering into temptation is believing that there is ever a time in human experience when men can neglect their defenses or relax their vigilance.

It was not merely that the disciples slept. This was not of itself condemnatory in the eyes of Jesus. It is recorded that on one occasion he slept in a boat and was awakened by his disciples that he might still a fierce storm which had arisen. His rebuke was because they slept when spiritual sense should have informed them that there was urgent need for them to be awake. He who is divinely alert, who watches and prays in obedience to the Christly command, will not sleep at the post of danger, nor fail to discern the call to immediate and urgent prayer, such as came during those fateful hours to Jesus in Gethsemane.

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