Persistence in Truth

WILLIAM S. BEACH

The student of Christian Science endeavors to derive profitable lessons from the events taking place about him. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 269), "Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul."

One day, a student who had tried to understand and profit by this statement was watching a laborer working on a building which was being torn down. The man was swinging a heavy sledge hammer over a piece of stone several inches in thickness. Although his blows fell steadily, they apparently had no effect. As he persisted, however, all at once, without warning, the mass shattered into several pieces.

The student saw in this incident a parallel to many of his experiences in breaking down the false material laws imposed by mortal mind. The prophet Jeremiah represents God as saying, "Is not my word like as a fire? . . . and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" Inasmuch as "with God all things are possible," every problem to be worked out in Christian Science should be approached with the acknowledgment of the infinite power of divine Mind. Under God's government, good does not ebb and flow, but is permanent and normal. Mrs. Eddy, who discovered the truth of being, proved the power of God to heal, and throughout her writings students are encouraged to demonstrate spiritual understanding, which results in healing. When the light of ever-present Truth illumines one's consciousness, correction is immediate, for light and darkness cannot exist together.

Every case of healing through Christian Science treatment, every problem solved, is a demonstration of the Christ, the spiritual idea of God. Recognition of this fact prompts the expressions of gratitude heard at the testimony meetings in our churches and published in our periodicals. Sharing these experiences with others is a joyous privilege, which brings blessings to those who testify and healing or reassurance to those who listen.

Instantaneous healings are frequently experienced, but seeming delay in obtaining one's freedom is no cause for discouragement. Through a more consecrated study of the Bible and our Leader's writings, lasting benefits are received.

Persistence in applying the truth is necessary in our overcoming of the seeming activity of evil. Man is the expression, or idea, of the infinite Principle, Love. Knowing this fact of real being, we should ever be conscious of our spiritual birthright. Realization of the allness of God nullifies any opposition or obstruction, and error succumbs to its own unreality.

Constancy is a spiritual quality, which, when allied with confidence and calm trust in God, meets every obstacle as another opportunity to prove the government of divine law. Undaunted by the taunts and martial bearing of the giant Goliath, the youthful David quickly proved the powerlessness of evil. He had early learned to trust God, whose power was infinitely greater than any error with which he could be confronted. This confidence is expressed in the words of the Psalmist, "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

In the business world, right persistence along specified lines of endeavor is essential to success. Likewise, in order to progress in the demonstration of Christian Science, there must be singleness of purpose and unqualified allegiance to God. We should be ever alert to reject error as unreal the moment it presents itself to our thought. If this is done with firm confidence in Truth, the error disappears, because we do not let it become a part of our consciousness.

Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 496), "Hold perpetually this thought,—that it is the spiritual idea, the Holy Ghost and Christ, which enables you to demonstrate, with scientific certainty, the rule of healing, based upon its divine Principle, Love, underlying, overlying, and encompassing all true being." How comforting to those facing fear or discouragement is this statement of Love's complete envelopment of all that really exists!

We may not know just how our mental work is effective, but we may be sure that every helpful, loving, unselfish thought is winged with the power of God and must accomplish its purpose.

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