The Omnipresence of Good

JAMES W. C. STUART

Christian Science is disclosing to the world the right sense of that which is actually going on. Many people are afraid either because some past experience threatens to have untoward results, or because they expect something disagreeable to happen in the future. When asked if they are suffering at the present time, they are apt to say they can stand the present situation, but that further trouble is expected to develop in the future.

The Preacher said, "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past." This statement implies the sweet promise that we may find protection from the effects of mistakes committed in the past and from the dread of future evil. Christ Jesus, our great Master, said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Can the kingdom be anything less than a state of happiness, health, joy, and well-being? It is possible to experience this harmony now, for, "behold, now is the day of salvation." Then it is possible to live today in such a way that we need not be afraid, but can be well and happy.

The study of Christian Science enables us to understand that all human experiences are essentially mental, and that the false concept of life as material can be exchanged for the spiritual understanding of man in God's image and likeness. Working out the problem of being metaphysically—which is the only way in which it can be done—the student of Christian Science sees the perfection of real being, and the unreality of evil, which mankind in general accepts as inevitable. Referring to "the metaphysician," Mrs. Eddy states on page 423 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" that he makes "Mind his basis of operation."

On page 1 of "Rudimental Divine Science" our Leader defines Christian Science as "the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony." God is infinite, eternal, All-in-all. The law of God is the law that good only exists, is present, and has power. Every moment God, Principle, is expressing Himself as good. Spiritual laws can be understood; they always show forth the loving care of God; and this is proved in the case of all who turn to Him. The commandment reads, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." To love God means to love good, be good, and do good. To love our neighbor as ourself means to know that in his real being he is God's image and likeness, and that no inharmonious conditions claiming to belong to him are real, because they do not belong to God, good. Man is the image of God, good. Evil, being no part of good, is no part of man. We can all learn to keep the commandments by practicing them in daily life, just as humbly and obediently as the child practices the things he has learned in school. When we know our true self as good, we are at one with the power of God, good; and our obedience to the law of good brings harmony into our present experience.

We read on page 24 of "Unity of Good" by Mrs. Eddy: "All consciousness is Mind; and Mind is God,—an infinite, and not a finite consciousness. This consciousness is reflected in individual consciousness, or man, whose source is infinite Mind." Consciousness is not a thing dependent upon a material body and brain. Real consciousness is wholly spiritual—the reflection of Mind, God. This consciousness, which reflects God, is governed by spiritual law and expresses divine qualities. It is spiritual, unimpeachable, eternal.

The knowledge that good is manifesting itself in our consciousness brings us a great sense of poise, peace, and joy. Thereby fear disappears, and with it any sense of discord and defeat.

God is the only Mind. He is infinite and eternal. He is the one real cause of existence, and His laws are laws of harmony and strength. The life of man is the manifestation of God, infinite Life. Consequently, we find that the discordant past was never part of real being, because evil was never part of God. We find, further, that our so-called future cannot be discordant because our real selfhood is safe in God, who is All-power. There is no so-called evil power to separate us from His perfect allness.

As darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, so evil, not being a fact, but only the suppositional absence of good, cannot exist in the presence of good. God is omnipresent. Therefore the sole and supreme fact of existence is that good is the only real presence.

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