Stability , firmness of character, and righteous purpose enabled prophets and apostles centuries ago, even though at times confronted with enormous obstacles, to preach the truth. And their understanding of God empowered them to overcome sin sickness, and death. Possessing a higher understanding of God and of man's relationship to Him, the master Christian. Christ Jesus, accomplished not only the works of those preceding him but greater works, greater in such measure as to have many acclaim him as Saviour. His rejection of the temptations and wiles of the devil, deceptive mortal mind, certainly exhibited his steadfast loyalty and obedience to God, his Father.

When Jesus was a boy of but twelve years, while in Jerusalem on the occasion of the feast of the Passover, he was found by Mary and Joseph "in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions'" (Luke 2:46). To the question put by his mother, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?" Jesus replied, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"

That unrest, disorder, and strife of many kinds in the world today have been part of mankind's affairs for ages is sufficient evidence that mortal mind cannot supply the remedy for instability, for if it could, it would have done so long ago. Mortal mind, claiming for itself all intelligence and power, has failed. The remedy is right at hand in the law of Truth, Life, and Love, for Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 243): "Truth has no consciousness of error. Love has no sense of hatred. Life has no partnership with death. Truth, Life, and Love are a law of annihilation to everything unlike themselves, because they declare nothing except God."

The law of Truth is manifested in truthfulness and perfection, not in a lie or in imperfection; the law of Life is manifested in joyous, harmonious existence, not in sickness or in death; and the law of Love is manifested in purity and compassion, not in impurity or in meanness. These truths, firmly established in thought and put into daily practice to the best of one's understanding, will enable the student so to demonstrate the law of Truth, Life, and Love as to be recognized as an individual of firm and stable character.

Trust in God is not just a passive hope but a moral force. Some years ago this was proved in the experience of a student of Christian Science who had worn glasses since childhood. The truth that God created only good was kept steadfastly in her thought, and this right thinking resulted in freedom from dependence on glasses for clear sight. In the fifteen years that have followed, this student has been a librarian and a businesswoman and still rejoices in the knowledge that sight, a God-given faculty, can never be impaired or destroyed.

God, Mind, "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17), expresses only good. Therefore, man, Mind's image and likeness, cannot be swayed by suggestions of sickness, fear, sin, ignorance, or lack. Christian Science teaches that these qualities of mortal mind, the counterfeit of divine Mind, are without power, presence, or Science; so regardless of their disguise, they cannot deceive or tempt the alert Scientist. They offer nothing good, nor have they any power to take anything good away.

The individual reflecting stability is immovable in loving his neighbor, for he knows that Love's image and likeness can be only lovable, kind, and pure. If one is unwavering in allegiance to Principle, one will demonstrate righteousness. Thus the one who is thinking right about his neighbor can do nothing to cause him one moment of anguish or concern; he can act only in the right way.

Good, firmly established in thought, is the producer of integrity, the annihilator of evil. Since God is unchanging good. His representative, man, is unwavering and steady in the purpose of good. Suggestions of mortal mind find no abiding place in the consciousness which is steadfast in the application of Christian Science.

The God-governed individual is fixed in Mind, not in matter; in Love, not in hate; in Life, not in death; in Truth, not in error's lies; and in Principle, not in self-will. He does not and cannot fluctuate in thought or act; he does not waver between two standpoints, good and evil, because he knows only good. Consequently, he can do only good. Governed by God's law of harmony, he is forever joyful, peaceful, and useful—forever reflecting stability and firmness of character.