"Arise, let us go hence"

William D. McCrackan

Let us arise and leave behind the old theories which have been found wanting, the sterile philosophies, the threatening theologies, and the sad solemnities of mourning for the dead. In that deeply compassionate fourteenth chapter of John, in which Jesus is described as comforting his disciples by promising them the "Spirit of truth," he is also represented as telling them that he was going away. He even felt constrained to say: "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."

The roots of indolence strike deep in human consciousness. When they are watered with fear they grow into a hard fiber which is known as stubbornness. There is generally an instinctive reluctance to go forward. Indolence seeks worldly wisdom as an ally, and hopes thereby to find the line of safety; but the only real safety lies in obedience to God,—as Jesus expressed it, "And as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do." When the Christian Scientist permits himself to be halted in his spiritual progress by the twin highwaymen, indolence and fear, he is in danger of being robbed of his spiritual understanding. On page 24 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes: "Acquaintance with the original texts, and willingness to give up human beliefs (established by hierarchies, and instigated sometimes by the worst passions of men), open the way for Christian Science to be understood, and make the Bible the chart of life, where the buoys and healing currents of Truth are pointed out." In physics the natural indisposition on the part of matter to move, its apparent resistance to change, is called inertia. Christian Science shows that there is no matter and that the mental state called materiality is fundamentally inert, because it is unintelligent, and of itself incapable of motion, or of acting as cause or effect.

Whither then shall we go? Leaving all for Christ, having discounted all earthly attractions, and placing our reliance solely on God, are we willing to go away as the Master did? In reality there is no elsewhere into which to go. God is here, heaven is here. Going hence is a mere figure of speech, for God's man constantly abides in God's peace. God's work was finished in the beginning. The advancing Christian Scientist rejoices in this. He leaves nothing real behind, but finds the whole creation everywhere. No vain regrets, no baffled plans mar his joy when he follows the Christ, Truth, as it calls to him, "Arise, let us go hence." In the words of Isaiah he answers, "Here am I; send me."

Public opinion does not believe in what it terms miracles. Christian Science shows that the so-called miracle is the normal expression of spiritual activity. The carnal mind says of some individual, He is sick unto death; only a miracle can save him. Christian Science replies, Let the miracle be performed, for there is nothing impossible with God,—and behold, the sick man is healed. In the same way the human verdict declares that a certain situation must lead to war, only a miracle can avert it; but Christian Science, reiterating the good news of God's omnipotence, causes the warlike clouds of hate and distrust to vanish.

In vain do the hands of false religion try to prevent this new pilgrim's progress by clutching at his seamless robe, when he has decided to rise and go hence. He keeps his shining face upturned to the light of Truth, not faltering in the forward step. The white light streams in a glorious flood upon his path. The gates of New Jerusalem open to him. There is no material temple there, no idol worship, no accuser, no false self that can experience sin, disease, fear, or death.

Christian Science has brought to view the full realization of man's perfection, in which there is no hurt, no suffering. As Mrs. Eddy writes on page 76 of Science and Health: "The sinless joy,—the perfect harmony and immortality of Life, possessing unlimited divine beauty and goodness without a single bodily pleasure or pain,—constitutes the only veritable, indestructible man, whose being is spiritual. This state of existence is scientific and intact,—a perfection discernible only by those who have the final understanding of Christ in divine Science."

Thus Christian Science gently leads those who have been made ready, out of the old dispensation wherein evil was believed to be real, into the new dispensation which destroys evil by proving its nothingness, and which knows only the good of God. The remnant of Israel spoken of by Isaiah arise and go hence to abide in the presence of divine Love, clad with the immortality of Life.

William D. McCrackan.

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The Holy Scriptures

September 28, 1918

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