Being Awake to Spiritual Truth

Duncan Sinclair

One of the temptations which beset mortals is to believe that they can be conscious only of that which pertains to material things. It is being constantly suggested to them that nothing can be actually known outside the range of material sense. But what a fallacy is this, which would shut us out from the illimitable universe of Mind, Spirit! Through-out the centuries men have fought the argument that their knowledge is circumscribed by material sense; and many of them have been able to refute the argument because, through spiritual sense, they have seen far into the realm of spiritual reality—the kingdom of heaven.

Christian Science is clarifying the situation for all thoughtful people today. Not only do its teachings deny that all we can know is that of which material sense informs us, but they also deny the validity of material sense itself. Indeed, Christian Science declares that nothing is real of which this sense claims to tell us. It goes even farther. It reveals that only that to which spiritual sense bears witness is true or real. It cannot be denied that this teaching is radical; but since it is true, it demands the consideration of all conscientious seekers for Truth.

How does Christian Science reach its conclusions? It begins by affirming that God is infinite Mind or Spirit. From this premise it reasons that creation—God's universe—consists solely of spiritual ideas, since Mind can express itself only in this way. Thus, Christian Science teaches that only God and His universe of spiritual ideas exist as reality. But Christian Science goes farther still; it draws the conclusion that, since God is infinite Spirit, in reality there exists nothing the opposite of Spirit. It thus denies that matter has any origin or existence. In this way, by making known the allness of God, Spirit, and denying reality to matter and all that pertains thereto, Christian Science sweeps away the fallacy that we are limited to the fables of material sense, and establishes the truth that we have the whole range of Mind's universe to know and contemplate through spiritual sense.

Understanding these things, the Christian Scientist constantly employs spiritual truth to correct the errors of material sense. Thus, when this sense would tempt him to believe that sickness is real, he holds steadfastly to the truth of the perfection of God and His idea, man, and denies the evidence of material sense. As he does this, the false belief of sickness yields to the truth and disappears. Mary Baker Eddy writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 495): "When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling stead-fastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought. Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious—as Life eternally is—can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not." This is the mental attitude which must be maintained by all who would gain the sense of harmony and health and dispel the illusion of sickness or sin.

Christ Jesus used this method, and instructed his followers in it. When he sent out the seventy on a healing mission "into every city and place," he said to them, "Heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you" (Luke 10:1, 9). That the kingdom of God had come nigh to them was proved by the healings they witnessed. What is the kingdom of God? It is the perfect universe of Spirit, Mind, the harmonious universe of Truth, of eternal Life. The great Way-shower declared, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). To gain the sense of eternal Life, in which there is no sickness, sin, or death, is to destroy belief in the reality of these fallacies. It is to be in possession of the Mind of Christ, whereby Jesus made all his demonstrations over the errors of material sense.

We should be awake to spiritual truth at all times. Material sense would lull us to sleep, mesmerize us by its suggestions, and so defraud us of our heritage of good. Only spiritual alertness can protect us against this fraudulent sense, which so often claims to speak for the body. Our Leader writes (Science and Health, p. 391), "Mentally contradict every complaint from the body, and rise to the true consciousness of Life as Love,—as all that is pure, and bearing the fruits of Spirit." Thus, by refusing to believe the suggestions of material sense, we gain dominion over the body.

God is omnipresent. His perfect spiritual ideas are omnipresent, to be understood and utilized by us at all times. As we understand and declare man's unity with God, these ideas come to us, enabling us to meet the problems which present themselves to us. We should therefore diligently cultivate the knowing of our unity with perfect Mind, since thereby we are kept awake to spiritual truth.

Duncan Sinclair

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