IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON March 22, 2010 Issue

GO UP HIGHER

KATHY FITZER

THIS POWERFUL INVITATION TO ASCEND the mount of revelation to see the holy kingdom of the living God appears at both the beginning and the end of this week's Christian Science Bible Lesson titled "Reality." Experience teaches that our view expands as we leave a valley and climb a mountain. Throughout this Lesson we see examples of those called to go up higher—to dwell "in the secret place of the most High" (Ps. 91:1, Responsive Reading)—in order to receive God's message of salvation. Science and Health asks the pointed question, "From a material standpoint, 'Canst thou by searching find out God?' " (p. 551, citation 4). I found the answer in this passage: "We must reverse our feeble flutterings—our efforts to find life and truth in matter—and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God" (p. 262, cit. 5).

Through the examples of Moses, Elisha, Jesus, and John the Revelator, we learn how we can behold God's kingdom, New Jerusalem, even while abiding on earth. It's encouraging to realize that in each of these Biblical examples, the inspired vision of God's presence came during a trying time. As the Israelites struggled to maintain their faith in the wilderness, Moses received a delineation of God's covenant with man—a declaration of His supremacy, a promise of His care, and a demand of obedience and loyalty (see Section I). Elisha—and his servant—had their eyes opened to see God's chariots and experience His protection while they were surrounded by the Syrian army (see Section III). Jesus opened the eyes of a blind man and called people to leave the darkness of the flesh and be the light of the world (see Sections IV and V). And the Revelator saw "the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven" while exiled on the isle of Patmos (Section VI).

Obedience to God's command to be pure and to worship Him exclusively is at the heart of a promised salvation and clear view of reality. The Psalmist answers the question, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?" with, "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart" (Ps. 24:3, 4, cit. 6) And Science and Health explains, "The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress" (p. 323, cit. 10).

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