Article December 27, 1947 Issue

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

LINDEN E. JONES

Often during the dark hours of world history, great leaders have appeared and issued to their peoples stirring commands, spirited injunctions, inspiring men to deeds of heroism, unity of action, or uncomplaining self-abnegation. Seeing this, we may ask: Is there no command of God, higher than any human directive, which has like power to rouse and reassure all men, giving them a sense of Love's omnipotence and the unreality of evil and offering them deliverance from fear, unrest, and suffering?

Indeed there is! For, having stood the test of centuries, the edict of divine Mind still stands." Impelling and compelling is its injunction (Ex. 20:3), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." No more stirring command was ever made, no more authoritative precept ever uttered. Proclaimed by the patriarch Moses and known as the First Commandment, this mandate of Spirit, God, is not the decree of a despot attempting to frighten mankind into subservience to his will. On the contrary, it is the call of infinite Love, warm in its appeal, gentle even if exacting in its demand, wise in its holy order, containing a blessing in its requirement that all men shall acknowledge, adore, and obey one infinite Father-Mother God.

This command understood and obeyed, tangible and glorious results must follow. Christian Science, through presenting the true idea of God, shows how intelligent and practical is adherence to the First Commandment. The depressing present-day world picture can be challenged and its unreality increasingly demonstrated. The transforming effect upon the whole earth of individual and collective compliance with the supreme command would be that world unrest and strife would cease. Men's hearts given to the love of God would no longer fail them for fear: neither would the threat of the possible annihilation of civilization hang over mankind.

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