Being a faithful witness to God

Throughout time, faithful witnesses to God have been essential to the well-being of both individuals and society as a whole. Why? Because a faithful witness is one who is steadfast in giving evidence or proof that something is true. When something false is parading itself as true, causing disturbance or discord, a faithful witness shines the light of Truth, God, which brings clarity and harmony to the situation.

In the book of Isaiah in the Bible, God tells the Israelites that they are witnesses to the fact that there is just one God, one Savior, and none else (see 43:10, 11). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of all of his followers being a light to the world, shining so that others can see their good works and give God the glory (see Matthew 5:14–16). And in the book of Acts it’s recorded that Jesus instructs his apostles to be witnesses to him to the ends of the earth (see 1:8). A faithful witness is an expression of God’s true nature and government, giving proof of the Almighty as the source of all good.

When we faithfully do our part as a witness, we can expect healing, because the power is of God, not us. 

The Apostle Paul is a great example of being a faithful witness. In spite of all the hardships he experienced in spreading Christ Jesus’ message of salvation, he could still write: “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38, New Living Translation). He must have been able to make such a statement because of his certainty that God’s love and care are ever present and omnipotent. 

A faithful witness is steadfast in their understanding of God’s true nature and deeply aware of the allness and ever-presence of the Almighty’s power, even in the face of difficulties. We must be convinced, like Paul, that nothing can separate us from God’s loving care. We can’t hope to open the door of thought to be filled with the power of God—divine Spirit and Love—if we’re giving any weight in thought to inharmony. In effect, this would attribute power to the problem rather than God and would hinder receptivity to the light of Truth, the testimony of Spirit and Love.

When we faithfully do our part as a witness, we can expect healing, because the power is of God, not us. Spirit’s testimony comes to human consciousness and illumines it through Christ, which Jesus so fully expressed. This is the divine influence of Truth, which is ever present to bring salvation—deliverance, recovery, purification, and liberty—to humanity. When thought is spiritually illuminated, it reflects the light of Truth, and the problem loses the appearance of reality and disappears.

I experienced this spiritual illumination and had an opportunity to be a faithful witness at a time when I was part of my eldest daughter’s support crew for her first 101-kilometer (about 63 miles) ultra-trail marathon. In addition to enabling me to provide general assistance, waiting at each checkpoint prompted me to prayerfully acknowledge that our true source of strength and endurance is God. As my daughter was close to finishing, I suddenly realized that we—her two-member support crew—didn’t have any food, and it was getting late to purchase anything. I found a nearby shop, but unfortunately, the meal wouldn’t be ready until very close to the time I estimated my daughter would complete the race. I certainly wanted to be at the finish line after supporting her for the last 14 hours! I prayed very simply—affirming that we would all be in our right place at the right time because God is Love. I was released from any stress about the timing.

A faithful witness must still human thought and become aware of divine Spirit’s message of what is true.

As I sat quietly waiting, a woman and a young boy came in to get their order. Within a few minutes, I heard a distressed call from the boy, whose arm was now stuck in an arcade machine in the food shop. He had put his arm up into the opening where the toys come out.

A worker from the shop tried for some time but couldn’t get the child’s arm out. Another tried—also unsuccessfully. At first, I was taken in by the troubling scene and attributed power to the problem. But then I turned all my thought to God, affirming that harmony is God’s rule because divine Love is always in control. I knew there was an answer, and I felt at peace. Then I was stirred to act. I found myself picking up the chair next to me and instructing the boy to sit down. Next, the woman with him told him to make a fist and twist his arm. He started crying, saying that he couldn’t do it. I gently said, “Yes, you can.” He then intently followed the woman’s instruction, and out came the arm. No stress, no strain, no injury—it just slid out. The woman gently rubbed his arm; then they picked up their meal, and off they went. 

I gave silent thanks to God for the universal light of Truth that inspired the woman as to how to instruct the boy, the boy to be obedient, and me to do my part being a witness to God’s rule of harmony. I picked up my order and made it back to the finish area as my daughter entered the last four hundred meters of the race.

Mary Baker Eddy, author of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, writes, “If Spirit or the power of divine Love bear witness to the truth, this is the ultimatum, the scientific way, and the healing is instantaneous” (p. 411). To experience this holy power, we must be imbued with Spirit’s testimony of truth.

God, who is Spirit, the only cause and creator, is the substance of all life. Spirit is always harmonious and “produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22, 23, NLT). Spirit denies the material testimony, the evidence of which is then destroyed. Divine Love only ever gives good; it does not harm or cause anything unlovely to be present. When we are cognizant of Love’s presence and care, fear is expelled; it has no place in thought and therefore no effect.

A faithful witness must still human thought and its perceptions and become aware of divine Spirit’s message of what is true. To be a light to the world, giving proof of God’s universal harmonious government, our conviction must rest entirely on God as All-in-all. This is what Jesus expected of his followers and something that is so needed in the world today.