"Who is mine adversary?"

Albert F. Gilmore

The prophet Isaiah was possessed of a profound assurance that God is a God at hand and not afar off, and that full-hearted trust in Him is rewarded with many blessings, including divine protection. In proof of his great faith in God as his sure deliverer the prophet declared, "He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me." The implication plainly is that the prophet rested in a sense of security in the divine presence that would shield him from attacks of the adversary, in whatever form of material belief presented. Thus the son of Amoz raised the problem of the adversary, the antagonist with whom it seems mortals have so constantly to contend.

Christian Science answers Isaiah's question, "Who is mine adversary?" and goes much further; for not only does Christian Science define adversary, but it sets forth with perfect clarity the method whereby the seeming adversary is destroyed—reduced to its native nothingness. In the definition which appears in the Glossary of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 580, 581), Mrs. Eddy likens the adversary who opposes Truth, denies and disputes it, to Satan—that is, to the devil of the Scriptures. And on page 584 (ibid.) she defines "devil" in part as "evil; a lie; error; neither corporeality nor mind." Here the character of the adversary is fully explained. It is a lie, falsity, "neither corporeality nor mind." Then, obviously, evil which mortals seem to have to contend with is nothing, which claims to be something, a nonentity claiming entity. The situation could scarcely be made plainer.

What are we to do with the adversary? Precisely what is done with every phase of error; for adversary, broadly considered, includes all falsity arising from the belief in life as material, as engendered by matter and supported by it. Isaiah found his remedy for the belief in an opposing power, the adversary, in his sublime faith in God, in the presence of good; and it is evident that this clear-visioned prophet had that degree of spiritual understanding which enabled him to meet and destroy the claims of error on the basis of their nothingness. He was certain of the availability of divine power, when invoked with understanding, to overcome every false presentment of the adversary.

Mortals' belief in a power opposed to God includes belief in corporeality, in a material selfhood. Moreover, this supposititious power, apparent as adversary, assumes the aspects of evil, to the influence of which mankind is subjected. And mortals come under its influence proportionably to the measure of reality accorded to it. But Christian Science destroys its seeming power by uncovering its character. Christian Scientists know it to be but false belief, but seeming, which has neither place nor permanence in God's kingdom of good. The understanding of God's goodness and omnipotence destroys every suggestion which evil may put forth, every presentment it may offer. Because good is infinite, evil is not. This reasoning applies to every claim of evil, whether in the name of sin, of disease, or of death. All are reduced to their native state of unreality by one and the same process.

We too commonly accord some semblance of reality to the claims of error; else it would never harass and disturb us. Nothingness is accepted as somethingness, and the battle is on. But victory is always on the side of Truth, for God has all power. The battle may be prolonged, but it need never go beyond the point of exposure of the character of the adversary. To contend with a falsity, with nothingness, is impossible. Full exposure clears the field of false claimants. Peter, writing to the strangers "elect according to the foreknowledge of God," enjoins upon them, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." And he indicated that resistance carried on steadfastly in faith was the means of overcoming this enemy to happiness and peace. This warfare, entered upon with sobriety and pursued with vigilance, is sure to accomplish its purpose, for Truth always wins.

None knew better than Mrs. Eddy the insistence of the claims of error; and because of her profound knowledge of the character of these claims, she dealt vigorously with the problem. Following her instructions in their letter and spirit enables us to throw off the yoke of bondage which the false claimant would bind upon us; for she writes on page 446 of Science and Health, "Resisting evil, you overcome it and prove its nothingness." When this task is undertaken lovingly and in full conviction of its importance, rapid progress is made toward spiritualization of consciousness, the process whereby we enter the kingdom of heaven. And it is learned that the only adversary we ever have is our own false thinking. When that is corrected, lions will no longer beset our path; evil will no longer find its counterpart in our thoughts. The adversary will disappear and God and His universe, including perfect man, will be seen as the only reality.

Albert F. Gilmore

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