Growing Godward

This week’s Bible Lesson, titled “Probation After Death,” asks us to ponder deep questions about life after death. While some may believe they are destined to go directly to a place called heaven or hell after death, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy speaks of a probationary time and ultimate salvation for all: “Universal salvation rests on progression and probation, and is unattainable without them.” “As death findeth mortal man, so shall he be after death, until probation and growth shall effect the needed change” (p. 291 , citations 7 and 5). None of us is ever condemned to eternal suffering. Instead, we will all be saved.

As we continue to progress and grow Godward, we experience what we may call “heaven” and “hell” moments. Our growing time can be like what it says in Isaiah: “For precept must be upon precept, … line upon line, … here a little, and there a little” (28:10 , cit. 5). We can celebrate our heaven moments, “Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day” (Psalms 96:2 , cit. 6). And we are encouraged to be patient and to persevere: “If your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race” (Science and Health, p. 22 , cit. 10).

Hellacious moments are times to lean on what we have already learned. Understanding divine Life, we can thank God, even before we see the evidence of God’s presence and love. In the story of Lazarus’ death and resurrection—before Lazarus was resurrected—Jesus gave thanks to God: “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always” (John 11:41, 42 , cit. 13). In my family, as I was growing up, this was our dinner grace, reminding us to give God thanks continually and to remember that God always hears us no matter what the circumstance.

The Lesson highlights the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 (Golden Text and cit. 8). Are we using our talents, or gifts? Let’s remember that a talent was literally an incredibly large sum of money, about 6,000 Greek drachmas, at a time when a drachma was a day’s wages. Near the end of the parable, the Amplified Bible has, “Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys” (Matthew 25:23, see Golden Text).

Jesus showed us how to use our talents. We cannot leave them unopened or they will seem to atrophy, diminish. We have the ability to do more than we know, and God works with us as we learn this: “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18 , cit. 19). This is not a sprint, but a marathon, so we need to put in a tremendous spiritual effort. Nonetheless, we are rewarded beyond our wildest dreams when we finish: “Ask yourself: Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good? … If so, then the way will grow brighter ‘unto the perfect day’ ” (Science and Health, p. 496 , cit. 28).