"Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid." ^{Job 11:18, 19;} These stirring words deserve the careful attention of everyone searching for security.

In the eyes of mortals, security appears all too often to be tauntingly out of reach. Yet the pressing uncertainties and the ruthless upheavals of materialism demand that each individual not only cultivate but actually demonstrate security in daily life. Christian Science, with the Bible as its authority, teaches how this can be done.

The Bible abounds in many convincing proofs of security. Elisha, for example, was once sought out by a woman in desperate straits. She was a widow, left moneyless; and now, to satisfy a debt, her two sons were being threatened with enslavement. The situation was tense. But there was majestic calm in Elisha's simple question, "Tell me, what hast thou in the house?" ^{II Kings 4:2;} It was as though ever so gently Elisha was encouraging her to look inward, not outward, to find security.

The woman answered that she had nothing but a pot of oil in the house. This admission, in the light of Christian Science, might well be considered the turning point in her experience. Why it was can be understood when one looks at the Christianly scientific meaning of two words in the Bible story: "oil" and "house."

Mrs. Eddy defines "oil" as, "Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration." ^{Science and Health, p. 592;} And spiritually interpreting the final verse of the twenty-third Psalm, she writes, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [LOVE] for ever." ^{p. 578;}

Not by hoarding but by pouring out the oil she had in her house, precisely as Elisha had instructed her, the woman was able to pay the debt and also to provide sustenance for both herself and her children. How can one today demonstrate true security as this widow did so many years ago? Only the calendar date has changed; God's love and His power are changeless. The way to prove divine Love's provision is the same today as it was in Elisha's day. One can still provide actual sustenance by pouring out the "oil" in his "house"—the gentleness and the charity and the inspiration inexhaustibly reflected in man's true consciousness.

"But," one may argue, "my consciousness is filled with anything but gentleness and charity; in fact, with just the opposite. It is filled with fear and doubt, and I'm bitter about my lot in life." This is certainly a common statement, either heard or thought daily. But is it true? Christian Science insists that it is falsehood, whispered and circulated by the carnal, or mortal, mind. According to this Science, God is perfect Mind, infinite good, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man's consciousness is wholly good.

Security is the sturdy promise of God, not a vain hope; it comes from the continual, day-by-day demonstration of divine Love. Despite all sense evidence, we are always free to exchange fear for confidence, envy for gratitude, hatred for charity.

How secure Paul felt when the poisonous viper fastened itself on his arm! Knowing the presence of Love, he merely shook off the viper and felt no hurt. How secure the three Hebrew men felt in the burning, fiery furnace! They walked safely through the flames, and not even the smell of smoke was on them. How secure one can be even when the senses argue that his whole world has suddenly slipped away! No matter what the condition, it is but a momentary belief that God, good, is not the only power. Man can no more be separated from God than sunlight can be separated from the sun.

Love expressed is security demonstrated. Christ Jesus demonstrated the true and secure selfhood of man as God's own beloved son. Security is never experienced vicariously; it must be proved afresh by each individual, who can do so by putting the teachings of Jesus into daily practice through the understanding of Christian Science.

According to this Science, security is neither destination nor desideratum; that is, it is neither a distant goal nor a desperate need. It is an integral part of God's kingdom; so it is always within us. Man's security stems directly from divine Love. The spiritual nature, source, and essence of security must be recognized; otherwise it may be believed to depend upon materiality, upon money or people or place or position.

"Security for the claims of harmonious and eternal being is found only in divine Science," ^{p. 232.} writes Mrs. Eddy. In the proportion that we realize this, we shall find fear of the future giving place to trustful, joyful expectancy. We can resolve now to live each day in gratitude for the fact that we can prove in appreciable measure the truth of the Scriptural promise: "Thou shalt be secure."