In the Christian Science Bible Lesson July 14, 2014 Issue

Life preserved

For the Lesson titled "Life" from July 14 - 20, 2014

Steve Warren

God, Spirit, is Life; therefore, nothing can have existence outside God’s infinite creation. This is our dwelling place, wherein every aspect of being is preserved and abundantly blessed. Is this statement simply a “feel-good” platitude or genuine truth? In this week’s Bible Lesson, “Life,” the Apostle Paul proves the daily practicality of this truth.

First, he assures the Athenians that the creator of all is not a localized god dwelling in temples, but rather a universal God giving us “life, and breath, and all things” (see Acts 17:24, 25, citation 2). And then he shows us this when he restores Eutychus to life (see Acts 20:7–12, cit. 5). Is such restoration possible? If man is the reflection of Life, God, then man’s life must be “indestructible and eternal” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 402, cit. 9).

In Section 3 (see Acts, chaps. 21–23, cits. 6, 7, 8), Paul is put on trial before the council for his teaching. Knowing the Sadducees and Pharisees disagreed over the theological idea of resurrection, Paul raises that very issue and stirs an argument between the Pharisees and Sadducees, which results in their letting him go free. Paul’s insight saved him. “Whatever is governed by God, is never for an instant deprived of the light and might of intelligence and Life” (Science and Health, p. 215, cit. 15). When we’re under pressured circumstances where insight and quick thinking are called for, we too can rely on the immediacy of God’s intelligence to inspire and heal.