Seeing God's Creation

MAUDE A. STEPHENSON

"Each material concept must be replaced by an
idea of Life, Truth, and Love"

In the spiritual account of creation in Genesis we read that "God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so" (1:24). Studying this passage and the spiritual interpretation of it, given on page 513 of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, one realizes that true creation is the manifestation of Spirit, not of matter.

Through spiritual sense one perceives this creation, or the new heaven and new earth, as a universe filled with perfect and pure ideas, each one of which reflects spiritual Life in harmonious action and expresses God's power and characteristics.

Science and Health enumerates some of these characteristics. For example, on page 512 Mrs. Eddy states, "Spirit is symbolized by strength, presence, and power, and also by holy thoughts, winged with Love." She also says (p. 515), "The serpent of God's creating is neither subtle nor poisonous, but is a wise idea, charming in its adroitness, for Love's ideas are subject to the Mind which forms them,—the power which changeth the serpent into a staff."

Each material concept must be replaced by an idea of Life, Truth, and Love. Lifting one's thoughts to behold the true nature of the serpent as a wise and harmless idea replaces the material concept and thus heals the apparent poisonous effect of the creature. Then one understands why Paul was unharmed by the viper and Daniel was safe in the den of lions.

Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., pp. 514, 515): "All of God's creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible. A realization of this grand verity was a source of strength to the ancient worthies. It supports Christian healing, and enables its possessor to emulate the example of Jesus."

While pondering these truths a student of Christian Science was asked to help a child who had been bitten on the face by a dog. When the harmless, loving nature of all God's ideas was recognized, and the indestructibility and purity of true being were established in thought, the inflammation and infection disappeared, and the wounds quickly healed. In the mother's own words, "We immediately turned to the truth of God's creation and although the wounds seemed serious the swelling and draining disappeared rapidly and the healing was quickly accomplished." The child experienced no discomfort.

The understanding of the purity and harmlessness of every idea in God's creation also prevents and heals diseases supposed to be caused by harmful germs, viruses, and bacteria, as well as those supposed to be caused by pollen, plants, and other objects. Harmful contagion and infection vanish when it is recognized that God's creation is good and that man's immunity is forever established and cannot be set aside. As this truth is universally accepted and utilized, the world will be released from its preoccupation with contagious and infectious diseases.

True being includes all right ideas. There is nothing outside true being which can enter and infect it, and nothing within it which can become impure. Mortal mind is unreal; therefore there is no mind to cause, transmit, or manifest evil or contagion. Man, God's idea, cannot manifest irritation, fear, resentment, or rebellion. He is secure in Mind. He is governed by divine Love alone. To understand these facts is to demonstrate that evil has no real existence, and therefore it has no power to infect, impress, or influence one.

Seeing God's creation as it really is, spiritual and perfect, one recognizes the necessity of denying the reality or influence of the carnal mind and all materiality. We must sacrifice belief in physicality if we would recognize man's spiritual at-one-ment with God, Spirit.

Lifting our eyes to behold the spiritual, perfect nature of all creation is the surest preventive of and the safest remedy for discord; such spiritual perception is the only scientific hygiene. Jesus' words regarding the Christ-power are as true today as in ages past (Luke 10:19), "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

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