Article June 12, 1989 Issue

Know the truth

Truth isn't merely something to believe in or hope for. It's spiritual reality to be certain of!

Joel Magnes

What does it really mean when we talk of knowing the truth? Part of the definition of know in one dictionary is "to be aware of the truth or factuality of: be convinced or certain of ... to have a practical understanding of." We may find it helpful, then, to think of knowing the truth in Christian Science as being convinced of the reality of what is spiritually true, despite what may seem contrary evidence of the physical senses. And when we understand what's true, our understanding is practical because it invokes the law of God to bring our experience into accord with spiritual good.

If, for example, we're tempted to believe in the reality of sinful traits or symptoms of sickness, we have spiritual and moral authority for refusing to be persuaded or frightened—knowing what is true of God and man. Christian Science explains that Christ Jesus healed through obedience to this law of God. He proved by his healing works that really to know the truth is not a mere mental exercise. Jesus' kind of knowing had the effect of healing all manner of human ills, even death. He never allowed the false claims of a sick body or character to alter his firm knowledge of what is true of God and of man's relationship to Him. Through our own daily study and practice of what Christian Science teaches us of these same Biblical truths, we can, to some degree, follow Jesus' example. And our knowledge of what is true becomes so vivid and natural that we are freed from believing or experiencing a lie.

Because divine Spirit, God, is the only creator, His only creation is spiritual man and the spiritual universe. Man is spiritual; he is the wholly good idea created by God, who is infinite good. And man is created in God's exact image, to express Him. Hence the relationship of God and man is eternal and is as inseparable as that between the sun and its ray of light. And like the sunbeam, man reflects all the attributes of his divine source, including such qualities as health, harmony, immortality, purity, perfection, dominion, wisdom.

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