Rejoicing in the works of God

Johannes Kepler, a brilliant 17th century astronomer, discovered laws of planetary motion that helped propel the scientific revolution. He’s been called the father of physical astronomy, but his lifework was permeated with a deeply held conviction that God is the creator of the universe. In a notebook he wrote, “I give you thanks, Creator and God, that you have given me this joy in thy creation, and I rejoice in the works of your hand” (Nancy R. Pearcey and Charles B. Thaxton, The Soul of Science: Christian Faith and Natural Philosophy, p. 23). Kepler’s praise of God is echoed in this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson titled “God the Only Cause and Creator.”

Mary Baker Eddy was also a profound thinker who praised God. Her discovery of spiritual laws, which she named Christian Science, was revolutionary because she understood that matter and evil have no place in creation. “God,” she wrote, “is All-in-all.... 

“He is divine Principle, Love, the universal cause, the only creator, and there is no other self-existence” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 331 , citation 1). 

The Old Testament often describes God’s creation as His “works.” The Psalmist sang: “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! … Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created” (Psalms 104:24, 30 , cit. 6). In the New Testament, the expression “works” refers often to Christian acts of charity and healing, the result of putting into practice the teachings of Christ Jesus. Jesus “knew that the divine Principle, Love, creates and governs all that is real” (Science and Health, p. 286 , cit. 14). This understanding gave him authority to heal, as when he was called on to restore a tormented boy to health (see Luke 9:38–43 , cit. 17). He was disappointed that others had not yet taken hold of this healing power (see verse 41). But when Jesus “rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child” (verse 42), “they were all amazed at the mighty power of God” (verse 43). 

After witnessing another miracle, the feeding of 5,000, people asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” His answer is for all time: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:28, 29 , cit. 18). Success in spiritual healing must be Christ-impelled. Though we may think this work is difficult, Jesus promised, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30 , cit. 19). Science and Health adds: “To mortal sense Christian Science seems abstract, but the process is simple and the results are sure if the Science is understood” (p. 459 , cit. 19).

Healing comes when we recognize and accept the perfection of God’s creation, a state of thought you might call a “hallelujah moment!” Hallelujah comes from the Hebrew phrase halal Yahh, translated into the King James Bible as “Praise ye the Lord” (Psalms 148:1 and 147:20 in the Responsive Reading, and Psalms 150:1, 6 , cit. 24).

Like the scientist Kepler, we can make our lifework a rejoicing in the works of God the Creator. And like Mary Baker Eddy, we can praise God through understanding spiritual law, and prove that “Christian Science does honor God as no other theory honors Him, and it does this in the way of His appointing, by doing many wonderful works through the divine name and nature” (Science and Health, p. 483 , cit. 24).