Christ Jesus plainly required that his followers leave all for Christ. The Master knew that a complete dedication to the demonstration of Christ, the divine ideal, which he exemplified, would not deprive anyone of what was right and useful but would destroy any sense of limitation regarding good. When Peter said to the Saviour (Mark 10:28), "Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee," Jesus replied, "Verily I say unto you. There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

Looking back in history, one finds that those who have been willing to leave all for Christ, so far as they knew how to do this, have contributed the most lasting benefits to the world. From Abraham, who left his home in Ur of the Chaldees and the pagan beliefs of his forefathers, to Jesus, who left the material sense of life for his eternal home in Spirit, we see developed in the Scriptures the true idea of leaving all for Christ.

The Master's impartation of the truth of being was so clear that he could expect of his disciples a complete departure from materialism. Today those who realize that Christian Science offers full salvation from all that is mortal or sinful or limited know that they too must depart from materialism, that is, they must give up every personal concept, every mortal fear, every selfish inclination. They must renounce all belief in the mortal senses and must prove the power of the Christ over the sins and sufferings that plague mankind.

This need not call for the giving up of a human home, a family, or wealth; but it will call for a better sense of these concepts. It will always call for willingness to labor long and tirelessly for the Cause of Christian Science. Sacrifices and activities only attest the transformation that takes place as one leaves all for Christ in the more spiritual meaning of giving up material beliefs for spiritual truths.

Mary Baker Eddy carried out the precepts of the master Christian with complete dedication. She devoted her life to establishing the Christian Science movement in order that the world might know of and accept her discovery of the divine law that Jesus demonstrated in overcoming evil and the mortal sense of life. She expected her followers to accept the responsibility which the understanding of the great truths of Science entails. She says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 192): "We are Christian Scientists, only as we quit our reliance upon that which is false and grasp the true. We are not Christian Scientists until we leave all for Christ."

Much is being written and said about the desperate need of the world for security, political stability, freedom from human prejudices and from sin, sickness, and poverty. Leaving all for Christ is the answer to these world needs, the intelligent giving up of materialism in order to gain the power of Christ, which alone can destroy the evil sense that depicts creation as material and man as mortal. No sacrifice of personal desire or satisfaction can seem too great to make, once the issues of today's struggle with materialism are understood. The reality and supremacy of Spirit can be and must be proved.

In describing Christian Science and its possibilities, Mrs. Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 235), "It gives to the race loftier desires and new possibilities." And she adds, "It touches mind to more spiritual issues, systematizes action, gives a keener sense of Truth and a stronger desire for it."

What could cause one to be blind to the issues at stake in the Cause of Christian Science? What but the subtle forces of evil, or animal magnetism, which would center thought on self, could keep one from devoting his life to the praise of God through demonstration of His governing power? If one's inspiration to serve lacks vigor, one should prayerfully convince himself of the nothingness of the material personality and the falseness of the mortal sense of life, which seem to be in control of his thinking, and let the forces of Spirit use him for the good of mankind.

Jesus' words should remain in our hearts (Matt. 16:25, 26): "Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" And a little later we have the Master's promise, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."

Helen Wood Bauman