Divine Satisfaction

Duncan Sinclair

On page 519 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy writes: "Deity was satisfied with His work. How could He be otherwise, since the spiritual creation was the outgrowth, the emanation, of His infinite self-containment and immortal wisdom?" God is perfect Mind, and His creation consists of spiritual ideas. These ideas, infinite in number, reflect the qualities of His perfect being. In other words, they perpetually express His wisdom, goodness, harmony, and peace.

What a wonderful thought is this! By it we perceive that God is perfectly satisfied with His creation, the spiritual creation which is the reflection of Himself. Not only so, but we understand that His creation, being the image of Himself, must necessarily be in the enjoyment of the satisfaction which characterizes perfect Mind. To put it somewhat differently, since God and His creation are perfect, the creator must be perfectly satisfied with His creation, and creation must be perfectly satisfied with its creator.

Again, man is the image and likeness of God, the compound idea of God; and as the compound idea of God, he includes all right ideas. That is to say, the real man is conscious of all the ideas or qualities of God. And since these include purity, wisdom, love, goodness, harmony, and peace, man is always in the enjoyment of true satisfaction. Thus Christian Science reveals what to material sense is unknown, namely, the fact that in real being naught but absolute harmony and absolute satisfaction reign. And knowing this, Christian Scientists joyfully echo the Psalmist's words (Psalms 16:11), "In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

But perhaps someone says, That may be true of God and of His spiritual creation, but how are we to regard the existence in which mortals appear to find themselves? How are we to reconcile sin, sickness, suffering, and sorrow with the harmony and peace of spiritual being? Christian Science declares that reconciliation between them is impossible; and for the reason that the material sense of existence is unreal. Christian Science is emphatic in its teaching that only God and His spiritual creation of ideas exist as reality; emphatic, that a mortal or material sense of existence is without true being. And this means that the sin, sickness, suffering, and sorrow which appear to afflict mankind are utterly illusory, utterly false.

The problem which men have before them is how to overcome the erroneous material sense of things, so that they may enter the kingdom of heaven, eternal harmony, where true satisfaction reigns. There is but one way in which to solve the problem, as Christian Science shows; and it is to gain an understanding of reality, God and His universe including man, and to deny materiality in its every phase. It is to hold steadfastly to spiritual truth, and to reflect the qualities of divine Mind; for thus is established within us the kingdom of heaven, or harmony. It is to be obedient to Paul's injunction to the Philippians (Phil. 2:5), "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

On page 9 of "Pulpit and Press," Mrs. Eddy says: "Self-forgetfulness, purity, and love are treasures untold—constant prayers, prophecies, and anointings. Practice, not profession,—goodness, not doctrines,—spiritual understanding, not mere belief, gain the ear and right hand of omnipotence, and call down blessings infinite." Our Leader's words are a great appeal for righteousness. "Self-forgetfulness, purity, and love" are prayers which never fail to secure the blessing of divine Love. Christian Science is constantly telling its students of the necessity for the practice of goodness, constantly informing them of the value of spiritual understanding. And it is doing this that they may gain the victory over sense and self, and enter into the joy and satisfaction of righteous living now.

As we look around us in the world we often see men struggling for position and power. Selfish ambition seems to be much in evidence. But what a delusion it is, and how bitter are its fruits! "The pride of place or power is the prince of this world that hath nothing in Christ" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 4). Some times this vain effort may make itself apparent even in our churches. Wherever it is in evidence, we can be certain that there the spirit of Christ is absent. How watchful we should be, then, lest "the prince of this world" delude us! How earnest should be our desire, our prayer, for the goodness and spiritual understanding which will enable us to spurn the selfish, the egotistical, the mean, and attain to the Christliness which in patience and love waits on God, divine Mind, to make known His perfect will for us.

Humility, love, the understanding of our real selfhood as God's idea, these give us strength for the duties of life. They divinely satisfy us also, making our hearts to rejoice with thanksgiving and praise.

Duncan Sinclair

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The Fulfillment of Joy

November 25, 1939

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