Article March 19, 1966 Issue

Overcoming the Serpent

ELLEN E. LONG

In the Bible a serpent metaphorically denotes evil. The children of Israel, during their experiences in the wilderness, felt the sting of fiery serpents; they felt the plagues of evil belief, which claimed limitation of water, food, health, and home. In Revelation the serpent is spoken of as the devil; it typifies mortal mind, poisoned with enmity, vaunting a power capable of breaking the Ten Commandments.

In Science and Health. Mrs. Eddy gives a definition of "serpent," which includes these statements (p. 594): "The first claim that there is an opposite of Spirit, or good, termed matter, or evil; the first delusion that error exists as fact; the first claim that sin, sickness, and death are the realities of life. The first audible claim that God was not omnipotent and that there was another power, named evil, which was as real and eternal as God, good."

Christian Science exposes as illusion the serpent's claim that man is material, that God is not omnipotent, hence is unable to maintain His own likeness in perfect life. When "the first audible claim" of sickness tempts us, do we listen to it, or do we immediately turn to the truth as expressed in these words (ibid., p. 495): "When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His likeness to abide in your thought"?

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