Mrs. Eddy writes, "Jesus acted boldly, against the accredited evidence of the senses, against Pharisaical creeds and practices, and he refuted all opponents with his healing power." ^{Science and Health, p. 18;} His unflinching courage in facing evil in any form was based upon his understanding of the presence and power of God. This understanding not only protected him but also made it possible for him to heal instantaneously. There was no trace of timidity in his walking on the water, raising the dead, or daily meeting the multitudes, some of whom he knew were planning his destruction.

Courage in facing our problems is essential to spiritual progress and to demonstrations of the grand truths of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy tells us: "It is not wise to take a halting and half-way position or to expect to work equally with Spirit and matter, Truth and error. There is but one way—namely, God and His idea— which leads to spiritual being. The scientific government of the body must be attained through the divine Mind. It is impossible to gain control over the body in any other way. On this fundamental point, timid conservatism is absolutely inadmissible." ^{p. 167;}

There is but one way to the true existence, which is spiritual, harmonious, perfect, and eternal. We must place our unfaltering confidence on the side of divine Mind and consistently act in accordance with our best understanding. Faith without action may help one to endure a problem, but it seldom solves it.

As a simple illustration of this, the writer had been having difficulty for some time with food of a certain kind that seemed to cause organic malfunction. He declared that food could not harm him in any way and that our real food is spiritual. But his problem was not solved. He had been avoiding the foods that seemed to have a bad effect on him. But when he saw that this afforded no benefit to him, he resolved to eat the very foods that he had been avoiding and so to act in accordance with the spiritual truth he understood. The result was that he had no further need for restrictions on his diet, except as to quantity!

It often requires courage to act on the truth one is declaring, but until one is ready to take action, a problem sometimes may not be solved. We must wait on God's wisdom to point the way, however, and then act quickly and confidently.

Christ Jesus' great confidence in the truth, even in the face of evil in its seemingly terrible forms, was his absolute conviction of his heavenly Father's love and ever-presence. He knew that he could never be separated from this divine and protecting presence. This understanding enabled him to heal. He is our Way-shower today.

Mrs. Eddy states: "Christians must take up arms against error at home and abroad. They must grapple with sin in themselves and in others, and continue this warfare until they have finished their course. If they keep the faith, they will have the crown of rejoicing." ^{p. 29;} The terms Mrs. Eddy employs here, "take up arms," "grapple," "warfare," are certainly not passive terms. They are imperative calls for determined action. When material sense seems to say, I'm sick, I'm afraid, I'm too old, too tired, then is the time to prove our God-given ability to destroy these enemies that threaten our peace and spiritual progress.

Our real selfhood is not a weak, fearful mortal. Man is not material; but as the likeness of Spirit, God, he is spiritual and perfect. Understanding this truth, we can demonstrate the power of the Christ, the spirit of Love, which Jesus and his disciples utilized so effectively in their time. This divine power can be utilized in proportion as we spiritualize our thinking and living. As this is prayerfully and courageously done, the mesmerism of fear can be dispelled.

The Apostle John writes: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." ^{I John 4:18.} We can overcome fear when we understand that our real selfhood is perfect and that God is Love and is our Life, in which there is no fear. Knowing this, we have strength to face the mesmeric illusions of fear and to act courageously. Then, as we "keep the faith," we shall "have the crown of rejoicing."