"A wellspring of life"

JOHN S. ALQUIST

In Proverbs it is written, "Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it." How well the author of this statement, fraught with such interest to all mankind, must have appreciated the need of understanding that God is the only Life! Solomon, sometimes called the wise man, being filled with spiritual wisdom, admonished, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom," adding, "and with all thy getting get understanding."

Students of Christian Science realize that it is spiritual understanding of God and spiritual man that saves and heals; so, while it is necessary to grasp the letter of Christian Science, it is imperative that we also imbibe the spirit of its teachings, for only thus is it possible to work out problems for ourselves or others. Inasmuch as understanding and demonstration go hand in hand, it follows that in proportion to our understanding are our needs met; and we are lifted through spiritual strength above the material resistance of sin, disease, lack, and inharmony.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, clearly realized that God, Spirit, is Life; and this realization resulted in the healing of herself and others. She writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 264), "When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter, this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness."

As one gains a truer concept of God and of His creation, thought rises to higher spiritual realization, and one looks no longer on matter or material things as real, but to the spiritual fact unseen by so-called material sense; one looks to ideas eternal, and rests securely in this true understanding. Does the navigator in midocean look merely to the water which surrounds his ship in order to find his bearings, and to steer his course toward the port of destination? Certainly not. He looks to his compass, and so reckons his course with mathematical precision. Is not this symbolic of the everyday need of mankind to look for guidance to the true concept of God and man?

Is someone enmeshed in the seeming maze of material thinking; do material possessions seem very necessary to life and well-being; does he look enviously on those who seem to possess so many of the things said to make life worth while? Christ Jesus said, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth;" and again, "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." One who is earnestly seeking the truth knows that this means striving for more spiritual understanding, to love mankind more, to think of giving more rather than getting more—in short, to be more unselfed.

In the Wednesday evening testimony meetings, held in Christian Science churches throughout the world, many expressions of gratitude are voiced for healings of all manner of disease. Often these testimones are concluded by the statement that the spiritual understanding gained is dearer to the speaker than even the physical healing. To one beginning the study of this subject, who may be seeking relief from some distressing physical ill or other discord, this may seem incomprehensible. But as such a one studies and strives to gain the Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus," he will realize that the added things are health, peace, joy, abundance, all spiritual blessings which are our rightful inheritance as children of God. For God does not withhold any good thing from "them that walk uprightly," from those who know and understand God and man rightly.

Our Leader lovingly admonishes (Science and Health, p. 324): "Be watchful, sober, and vigilant. The way is straight and narrow, which leads to the understanding that God is the only Life. It is a warfare with the flesh, in which we must conquer sin, sickness, and death, either here or hereafter,—certainly before we can reach the goal of Spirit, or life in God." The way is indeed straight and narrow, but it excludes only that which is not good; it allows of the understanding that eternal Life is a present reality, and that the kingdom of heaven is here and now. The Master said to the woman of Samaria at the well, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

How grateful we should be that this spiritual understanding is springing up, that we can see on every hand the indications of the leaven of Christian Science, and that the results of this exalted thought are being made manifest in the world! How profoundly grateful we should be that we, to-day, are in possession of those priceless treasures, the Bible and Science and Health, which are revealing to us the "pure river of water of life ... proceeding out of the throne of God," so "clear" that all may partake of it and prove its life-giving qualities!

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