Article May 7, 1977 Issue

[Original in French]

Responding to God's Irresistible Attraction

BEATRICE LABARTHE

Man has always existed. And he always will, as the Bible shows us. There is only one kind of man—immortal man, the only man God, infinite, immortal Mind, could create.

Nothing can override this immortal truth—not social status, acquired culture, or education. God, Spirit, not outward circumstances, governs us. He works in us "both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2:13; Therefore we can expect Him to work in us, as He worked in Saul of Tarsus, to bring about the necessary change. God is always present, and consequently He is manifesting Himself in us even at this very moment. We let go of false beliefs and the wrong actions resulting from these beliefs when the truth has taken the place of error in our thought. On the subject of Truth, which is one of the synonyms of God, Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, "Radiant with mercy and justice, the sword of Truth gleams afar and indicates the infinite distance between Truth and error, between the material and spiritual,—the unreal and the real." Science and Health, p. 538; We often allow ourselves to believe that the material environment in which we seem to live is normal and that in order to attain perfection and happiness we must through painful efforts rise above this environment and reach something above us. In reality, it is the kingdom of God that is normal, and all that claims to be outside this kingdom is abnormal, inconsistent, unreal. Concerning the birthright of man, Mrs. Eddy tells us: "His birthright is dominion, not subjection. He is lord of the belief in earth and heaven,—himself subordinate alone to his Maker." ibid., p. 518;

Knowing this, we find calmness and security. Since that which is real is divinely natural, we do not have to go looking for it. It is right at hand. So health, abundance, activity, joy, and purity are rightful, legitimate conditions. It is natural for everyone to inherit these as their birthright. We find them as we know ourselves to be what we really are—children of God.

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