For one seeking freedom from the limitations of a false, material sense of existence, whether expressed in beliefs of sickness, sin, poverty, unhappiness, or some other phase of mortal discord, there is great release to be found in prayerfully studying the Bible account of how Jesus instantaneously conveyed a ship to land through his understanding of spiritual power. We read in the sixth chapter of John of how Jesus came walking across the sea to his disciples, who, when they recognized their Master, "willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went." What a consummate example is this of the power of infinite Spirit instantaneously to annul beliefs of material limitation! The belief in life, substance, and intelligence in matter bows before the Christ, Truth. Physical laws were abrogated by the Master's clear realization of the omnipresence and omniaction of divine Mind.

"And immediately the ship was at the land whither they went"! Immediately it arrived at its destination! Material science, so called, has not been able to explain or parallel this phenomenon. Only Christian Science can lift the veil of mystery from this mighty demonstration of divine power and reveal its practical import to the seeker after Truth. Mary Baker Eddy has written in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 292), "Divine Science alone can compass the heights and depths of being and reveal the infinite."

What is the spiritual land towards which students of Christian Science are journeying today in their demonstration of the Science of Mind—healing? Do they desire some physical healing seemingly delayed? Do they believe that in some way they are limited, fettered, or enslaved? Do they anxiously scan the mental horizon for the health, peace, happiness, and abundance of good which they long to attain? Are they tempted to be weary after long hours of waiting and watching, and to be heartsick and discouraged because the longed-for shore of harmony seems dim and unattainable beyond the troubled waters of belief? Then it is time for them to awaken to behold the omnipresence of the healing Christ and to receive the truth willingly into consciousness. Then it is time for them to know that they are already where they long to be, already in possession of the good they desire, already spiritual and complete, experiencing now, at this very moment, the peace and freedom and spiritual blessedness which belong to man as the child of God! This is the scientific truth which frees men from mortal discord.

In the light of the teachings of Christian Science we see that man is not approaching perfection, but exists at the standpoint of perfection. Thus he manifests always perfect health, measureless freedom, and abundance of good. "In reality there are no material states or stages of consciousness, and matter has neither Mind nor sensation," as Mrs. Eddy says (Unity of Good, p. 50). There is only spiritual consciousness. No argument of evil has ever invaded, or can ever invade, the Christliness of true consciousness. As God's reflection, man forever shows forth the radiant peace, joy, and holiness of spiritual sonship. There is no dire condition of material belief, however stubborn or binding, which cannot be healed through an enlarged understanding of the truth of being.

We read of the disciples that "they willingly received him into the ship." Let us remember this word "willingly," for it is important in our demonstration of the truth of being. Willingly, not reluctantly, doubtfully, fearfully, hesitantly, perhaps even grudgingly, but with joyous readiness to accept and be blessed by good! Have we really a willing heart? Are we truly eager to receive the revelation of the Christ and prepared to surrender false intellectuality, pride of opinion, and arrogance for the purity and meekness of divine sonship? We are far from proving our receptivity to Truth if we are impatiently fretting because our demonstration of good is slow in being made, or fearing lest we fail to make it. Impatience, fear, or self-will never brings healing. Had the disciples not been ready to receive the Christ, Truth, to some extent, they would not have heard the Master's tender words of comfort, "It is I; be not afraid."

Christ, Truth, is here today as it was centuries ago, ever ready to bless and comfort, ever waiting to enter the human heart on its healing, redemptive mission. As we turn away from the false arguments of material sense, we recognize God and His perfect idea, man; we perceive spiritual harmony, beauty, and joy to be always at hand. Purity, faith, obedience, unselfed love, and steadfast expectancy of good open our eyes to discern the ever-present Christ and demonstrate its power.

Receiving Christ, Truth, willingly, joyously, gratefully into thought, we find that we are in the holy place of our scientific unity with all good. Only to material sense were the disciples toiling and in difficulty: they needed but their Master's words to relieve them of their fear. Like them, we have only to open our hearts to the healing Christ to find the answer to our human problems. Beliefs of sickness and unhappiness and limitation are but illusions, powerless to blind the consecrated student of Christian Science to man's present spiritual perfection.

If our journey seems long, if we seem to pull laboriously on our oars against a heavy wind of adversity and suffering, let us look up and see Truth, the Comforter, as revealed to us through the teachings of Christian Science. In reality we are at the goal of spiritual being now. As we are freed from self-will, the necessary human footsteps are taken joyously, for we are awakening to a clearer sense of the truth. Truth is ever fully expressed through man; it but awaits our recognition and utilization.

Man lives and moves in the realm of limitless Mind. In the infinitude of Spirit there are no fetters of time or material space. God, divine Mind, is never confined in matter; therefore man, Mind's idea, is never in matter, and cannot experience limitation or restriction.

"And immediately the ship was at the land"! The power of Truth is always instantaneously demonstrable when scientifically understood. In the measure of the Christliness of their thinking will students of Christian Science approximate in their demonstrations the ease and spontaneity which characterized Jesus' healing works. As one's unity with everpresent Love is realized, and the light of its tenderness and power illumines individual consciousness, boundaries of corporeality melt away and new vistas of spiritual freedom open before one.

Mrs. Eddy points the way to greater heights of demonstration in her words (Science and Health, p. 411), "If Spirit or the power of divine Love bear witness to the truth, this is the ultimatum, the scientific way, and the healing is instantaneous."