Article April 14, 1986 Issue

The importance of knowing God

ROBERT A. MOSS

A correct understanding of God in some degree is essential to any Christian Science healing. Without a true concept of Deity as divine Love, the All-in-all, the would-be healer might be overwhelmed by the weight of materiel evidence of disease, lack, or sin. Only the deep conviction of what God is, of His nature as omnipotent good, enables one to maintain his stand against the aggressive opposition and fears of the carnal mind—against whatever would deny God's all-power. A corollary of this vital understanding, and following logically upon it, is our ability to deny the authenticity of any mind opposed to God, since God is the one intelligence. Through this understanding, we reject whatever is unlike good and destroy it. "It is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle," writes the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, "which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony."^{Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 390.}

By healing desperate and longstanding diseases and infirmities, Christ Jesus constantly demonstrated the power that comes from a clear consciousness of what God is and does. He declared, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."^{John 5:30.}

Christian Scientists try to follow the Master. They strive to obey his command to heal the sick. Fundamental to this effort is consecrated study to know God, the Father, better and to draw closer to Him. We should never forget that it is God who is the healer, as the Psalmist declares: "Bless the Lord, O my soul ...: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases."^{Ps. 103:2, 3.} Sometimes, faced with a difficult case, one may doubt his capacity to heal. When this happened to me, I had a sudden awful sense of inadequacy. Instantly into my thought flashed these words from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health: "Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power."^{Science and Health, p. 192.} The sense of personal inability was seen to be a sham, and I rejoiced in the God-power that was mine by reflection. I was able to continue the metaphysical work with renewed inspiration and confidence.