"Nothing wavering"

Albert F. Gilmore

In his appealing message to the twelve scattered tribes, James stated many priceless truths. To those whose thought had been quickened by the words and works of the Master, he made a strong appeal to stand firm, secure in the assurance of God's fatherhood and His unchanging love for all His children. He implored those whose thought had been quickened to ask God for wisdom, but to ask in full faith, in perfect assurance, "nothing wavering."

The apostle thus emphasizes the need for firmness, for complete stability in our thought when we approach God both with our supplications and in our affirmations of His presence, His allness and eternal goodness. He pleads for perfect faith,—the faith into which enters no element of doubt, no slightest suggestion of uncertainty,—but with the assurance, the positive conviction, which knows because it understands.

James further defines the character of the doubter, of the one who wavers: "He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." The proverbial change-ableness of the wind, now blowing in this direction, now in that, without either certainty of direction or stability of force, perfectly describes the wavering thought—the thought which has no foundation in Truth. But how can thought be stable unless it be fixed on reality, founded in Truth? Christian Science posits all reality in God, divine Mind, and His expression and reflection. Only that which emanates from this Mind can be true or have reality. Accordingly, only the thought which recognizes this supreme fact can be fixed and stable.

The beliefs of mortal mind, so called, in whatever form manifested, have no foundation in fact, and being without foundation or law they waver, are tossed about, like the waves of the sea, chaotic and unstable. The lesson to be learned from the apostle's words is that firmness, stability, and conviction are the mental qualities which win in the search for Truth; that uncertainty, doubt, double-mindedness are factors of failure, which are to be supplanted by the faith founded in understanding.

The definition for "believing," on page 582 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, reads in part, "Firmness and constancy; not a faltering nor a blind faith, but the perception of spiritual Truth." Here Mrs. Eddy unites "firmness and constancy"—qualities precisely opposite to the wavering, unstable thought. While in a sense firmness and constancy are synonymous, yet constancy adds to firmness the supplementary qualities of steadfastness coupled with fortitude and endurance. It is the quality which enables one to carry on even in the face of seeming great adversity. In human experience, firmness, steadfastness, fortitude, and endurance are prime factors in all successful endeavors. When they are exercised with one's highest sense of duty and obligation, they often bring what men call success. But when based upon spiritual truth, upon the Rock, Christ, they become the sure accessories to the greatest of all victories, the demonstration of divine power over all error, over all the false claims of material sense.

The instability of mortal thought is proverbial. How could it be otherwise until the truth be grasped? Yet the importance of steadfastness and firmness in holding to the facts of being is immeasurable. Without constancy there can be no spiritual progress. The sick are not healed when the spiritual vision is darkened and thought wavers. Praying always for more light, holding unswervingly to the light already revealed brings success.

Too great emphasis cannot be placed upon the necessity for firmness. To admit the possibility of a power opposed to God greatly weakens our citadel. It hints at the presence of an enemy, able to do harm, whereas the great necessity is to know there is no enemy; that evil has no power, no reality, no entity. In setting forth the rule and process of Christian Science practice, our Leader says (Science and Health, p. 393), "Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God's government." No wavering here! No room for doubt! It seems incredible, in the face of mounting testimony, that Christian Scientists should ever entertain the slightest doubt as to the potency of the Christ, Truth. Reliable evidence, positive proof, is at hand that the Christ, Truth, received into consciousness destroys error and redeems mortals from sin and sickness. God, through His perfect Christ, is the great Deliverer and Redeemer. To grasp this fact is mankind's most urgent need; and, once grasped, all wavering will cease. Calm confidence, based upon understanding, will replace all uncertainty, all doubt.

Albert F. Gilmore

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"God is universal"

August 3, 1929

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