Article May 24, 1941 Issue

Eternal Sanctuary

MARCIA STEVENS BARBER

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee." These words show that David had caught a glorious glimpse of the truth taught by Christ Jesus and set forth so accurately by Mary Baker Eddy in the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," namely, that God's thoughts constitute true substance, and that it is of this substance alone that man is made. To the student of Christian Science these deeply spiritual and poetic words come with their full depth of meaning and comfort, because he has already begun to experience the far-reaching, practical effects in his daily life of a conscious acceptance of the fact that God's thoughts are reality and substance.

Those who are reaching out for a higher understanding of God, and who long to receive more fully of this spiritual substance and comfort, may perhaps ask: How can I receive these thoughts from God? How can I recognize them? How can I translate the substance of these ideas into health, supply, or a home, which I need so much right here and now?

These are pertinent questions. If we are to hear the voice of God, we must prepare ourselves to listen. Our purpose and desire must be humble, unselfish, and loving; self-will, human opinions and plans have a peculiarly deafening effect. No matter how little we may be able to express in words what God means to us, we have found the way to Him, and may confidently wait for a greater understanding of Him. A study of the life and works of the gentle, unselfish, and loving Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy, will bring not only great light, but healing and protection. On page 587 of Science and Health she has given us this definition of God: "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence." As we allow the significance of this revelation to penetrate, it becomes more and more apparent that our former concept of man as both material and spiritual, good and evil, must have been a mistaken one, since, obviously, such a concept could not be the product of a perfect creator. Because we have drawn our false conclusions entirely from the testimony of the material senses, we soon begin to entertain some very wholesome doubts about the reliability of these senses and their ability to furnish us with accurate information.

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A Firm Foundation
May 24, 1941
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