"There is divine authority for believing in the superiority of spiritual power over material resistance," writes Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health (p. 134). An example of this power over such resistance expressed as sin, sickness, and death is found in the life of our Way-shower, Christ Jesus. Through his clear understanding of the omnipresence of Spirit, God, he was able to heal mental, moral, and physical discords, regardless of their name or history. He was so conscious of the infinite nature of Life and Love that on more than one occasion even those who had died arose immediately at his command. He proved the truth of what he taught. It is recorded at the end of the seventh chapter of Matthew that "the people were astonished at his doctrine. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."

Christian Science is the same healing and saving truth that Jesus preached and practiced over nineteen centuries ago. The passage of time no more lessens its efficacy than time can lessen the usefulness of mathematical law.

As the Comforter, the law of divine Mind, Christian Science exercises the power of the living-God. This law is immutable and works for the benefit of all mankind. Through a sincere effort to live in accord with its teachings, one walks in the footsteps of Christ Jesus and speaks to disease and discord "as one having authority."

Let us remember that mortal existence, with all its complex problems, is not reality. It is a dream of the carnal, or mortal, mind, a lie, a nonentity. God never made dreams, matter, sin, sickness, birth, or death; therefore they do not exist in the Science of real being. There is no opposite to God, infinite good, and His infinitely good creation.

Our true, spiritual identity is never influenced by anything but Soul, Spirit. This identity, our real selfhood, is man, God's spiritual, perfect idea. It knows no limits, but remains forever the eternal witness of effortless divine Mind. Our understanding and acknowledgment of these spiritual facts enable us to utilize divine authority under all circumstances.

Mrs. Eddy makes a very helpful statement in regard to our God-given dominion when she says: "Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man's dominion over the whole earth. This understanding casts out error and heals the sick, and with it you can speak "as one having authority'" (Science and Health, p. 14).

Christian Scientists are positive thinkers. They rely wholly on the spiritual understanding of God and man in their healing and uplifting work for humanity. They never make a reality of disease. They are positive in their declarations of the perfection of God and the real man; also they deny the reality of any ungodlike appearance of imperfection. Recently, in a syndicated article in a newspaper, a doctor made this statement: "We can all benefit a great deal by imitating the strong positive outlook of Christian Scientists."

The more we use our God-given authority, the more dominion we express. For example, a young woman, a sincere student of Christian Science, telephoned a practitioner one morning for prayerful help. She was experiencing severe suffering in the lower part of her body.

The practitioner immediately lifted his thought to God and realized that in God's sight man is always spiritual and harmonious; that since God made man perfect, man cannot be in agony any more than God can. It was seen that Love fills all space and that fear is never a real presence to mesmerize anyone. It was known that aggressive mental suggestions are powerless, because in reality they do not and cannot exist anywhere.

The practitioner was so uplifted that he was able to see the nothingness of fear and to speak with authority to the lie. A little later the young woman reported that she had regained her complete freedom.

No thinking individual would voluntarily place himself in chains and be shackled for years; but this is exactly what one does when he entertains thoughts of sickness, sin, and death. These impede one's spiritual progress. But when one takes his stand for Christ, Truth, and rises in rebellion against these lies, knowing that because God never made them they can never touch one's real being, God's spiritual idea, they disappear. After all, these lies were never true. Scientifically speaking, man is safe and sound, since he dwells always in fetterless Mind.

A beautiful hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal reassures us of the heavenly Father's all-loving care for us. The last verse reads (No. 144):

Let us go forward today and live "as one having authority."