Article May 16, 1953 Issue

ETERNAL LIFE HERE AND NOW

BEN J. FEWKES

The statistics of life insurance companies show that mankind are living longer than they did; that there is a constantly increasing life expectancy. This bears out the statement made by our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, many years ago (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, pp. 223, 224), "Longevity is increasing and the power of sin diminishing, for the world feels the alterative effect of truth through every pore."

We have many precedents in the Holy Scriptures for our conviction that death itself can be, and is to be, overcome; that it is an enemy, and not a friend; that it is unreal and untrue. In Deuteronomy (34:7) we are told that at the age of a hundred and twenty years Moses' "eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." This proves that men can extend their usefulness far beyond the threescore years and ten to which so-called mortal mind would limit mankind. When Elijah "went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (II Kings 2:11), Elisha, upon whom the mantle of Elijah fell, perceived the eternality of life, and later he was able to restore the son of the Shunammite woman to life. This proved that the power to demonstrate eternal life was not limited to one person, but was possible to all who perceived Life's ever-presence.

In fact Jesus, who performed many mighty works, even raising Lazarus and others from the dead, told us that we should do the works that he did, and even greater. His last demonstration over death was his own resurrection from the grave. Writing of this in the chapter in Science and Health entitled "Atonement and Eucharist," Mrs. Eddy says (p. 43), "Jesus' last proof was the highest, the most convincing, the most profitable to his students."

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