"THE REAL HOUSE"

CECIL JAMES LARSEN

One meaning of the famous statement made by Paul, "In him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28), is brought out by Mary Baker Eddy in "Pulpit and Press," where she writes (p. 2), "The real house in which 'we live, and move, and have our being' is Spirit, God, the eternal harmony of infinite Soul." She adds on the next page, "Our surety is in our confidence that we are indeed dwellers in Truth and Love, man's eternal mansion."

As Christian Scientists we are grateful to God for divinely leading Mrs. Eddy in giving us Christian Science, which reveals the great fact that God is not finite and corporeal, but incorporeal, omnipresent, supreme, infinite, and that His infinite being is expressed by His spiritual universe, including man, who is God's highest idea. Man's real house can manifest only God's qualities. Drabness, shabbiness, smallness, uncleanliness, or any other inharmony or discord has no abiding place in the house which is Spirit. This house can only manifest the attributes of Soul, which are joy, purity, beauty, expansiveness, harmony, and the like.

Man can afford to live in this house because he is inseparable from God's abundant supply: "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine" (Luke 15:31). There is no lack or limitation there, for infinite Love alone provides. Love bestows, man receives; therefore his house is beautifully furnished with harmony, peace, and prosperity.

The writer had an experience about a year ago which proved to him that "love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13:10). He had felt for some time that he had outgrown his house and neighborhood, and he wanted to move away. After he had done prayerful work it came to him that he was trying to run away and that he would have to prove the truth right where he was.

He immediately changed his concept of his neighbors, who were of a different race and professed a religion other than Christian Science. He raised his thought above the material and began to see God's perfect ideas, reflecting intelligence, Truth, and Love. He became more loving to his neighbors, who responded to this kind of treatment at once. One neighbor brought over some tamales and stayed for a short visit. Another neighbor made him a gift of a watermelon and some tomatoes which his brother had just brought in from his ranch.

After these experiences the writer found himself in the position of having to vacate his premises within thirty days. He was then led to study about "the real house," and after prayerful work his attention was called to the following (Science and Health, p. 515): "All that God imparts moves in accord with Him, reflecting goodness and power." The words "moves in accord with Him" stood out so clearly that within three hours he was introduced over the telephone to someone who had just the house in the exact neighborhood where he wished to live. Within twenty-four hours papers were signed which enabled him to move into his new quarters well ahead of the thirty days allotted him. This was experienced at a time when housing seemed critical in that area.

We dwell in "the real house" when we love one another and make constant daily effort to see that only God's qualities are reflected by man. Love is the temple of the living God, in whom "we live, and move, and have our being."

In the words of one of our inspiring hymns (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 179):

Love one another,—word of revelation;
Love frees from error's thrall,—Love is
liberation.
Love's way the Master trod;
He that loves shall walk with God.
Love is the royal way.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.—Psalms 31:24.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"CHILDREN WHEN TWELVE YEARS OLD"

December 9, 1950

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit