Wake up to joyous reality

Are sin, disease, and death real? 

What a question! These are part of everyone’s life! 

This week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson has that question as its subject, and, through a reasoned and inspired presentation, it concludes that sin, disease, and death are actually not real. 

Well then, help me understand how they don’t have to be part of my life.

Start with this direction in the Golden Text: “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11, New King James Version). The Message clarifies: “Don’t waste your time on … the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are.” Throughout the Lesson, sin, disease, and death are clearly exposed as shams (frauds, illusions, deceptions, dreams). And in their place, through awakening, light, reason, and grace, we’ll find what’s real: holiness, health, life!

We never need to be afraid. We’re assured that God forgives all our sins, heals all our diseases, redeems (literally: “buys back”) our life from death, and then crowns us with tender lovingkindness (see Psalms 103:3, 4 , Responsive Reading). We just need to awaken to God’s powerful presence and care.

In Section 1, the towering prophet Jeremiah brought an order from God that we shouldn’t let false prophets and diviners deceive us (see Jeremiah 29:8 , citation 1). In those days, diviners used physical evidence and omens to predict the future. 

Am I being deceived by physical evidence, the media, my own fears? 

Mary Baker Eddy proved that “sin, disease, and death have no foundations in Truth” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 415 , cit. 2). As you study this Lesson, look for descriptions of mortal existence and all its ills as a dream, a pervasive deception. 

You’ll love how this Lesson helps you wake up! Three pairs of sections give the opportunity to study unreality and its corresponding reality. Section 2 shows us that sin is the deception, while Section 3 presents sin’s opposite, holiness, as our real being. In the same way, Sections 4/5 and 6/7 deal with disease/health and death/life. 

Sounds like a great study, but can this help me in practical ways?

“Reason is the most active human faculty” (Science and Health, p. 327 , cit. 7). As you reason on the basis of Truth, you’ll be awakening to the joyous reality of your being and gaining dominion over all those deceptions that would put one to sleep. 

Look at this statement to simply “cease to do evil; learn to do well” (Isaiah 1:16, 17 , cit. 6). There’s no question that sin can be put aside, especially when coupled with the revelation that you “shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2 , cit. 8). Consider how
Jesus didn’t fear any reality of leprosy or question God’s power. Setting aside religious laws as well as beliefs of contagion, he lovingly touched a leper, healing him instantly (see Mark 1, cit. 14) 

Section 6 shows Jesus facing not only a mourning family but also a jeering crowd of professional mourners, usually hired when a death occurred. 

Would those be like Jeremiah’s false prophets and diviners, insisting death was irreversible? 

Right—and Jesus firmly put them out. Knowing that life is always the reality, he restored the girl to her family (see Luke 8, cit. 20)

Thanks! I’ll love awakening to the fact that holiness, health, and life are the reality of my being!