CONSCIOUSNESS OF PERFECTION

GODFREY SPERLING, JR.

Man , because he is the idea of perfect, all-encompassing Mind, reflects all that Mind knows. Perfect God knows that man is made in His image and likeness and is, therefore, perfect. Man, by reflecting this all-knowing God, is conscious of his own perfection.

In helping a member of his family, a Christian Scientist began to see that if he were to behold the perfect man, he would necessarily have to perceive that the patient's true selfhood also was conscious of perfection. To affirm that the true man is healthy and harmonious is certainly helpful. But to go further and declare that the real man is always conscious of this health and harmony is a necessary part of perceiving the perfect man. Strong affirmations of man's awareness of good soon resulted in the patient's acknowledgment of healing.

Mary Baker Eddy writes in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 476, 477): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." We can be certain that Jesus beheld the real man. who possesses not only the qualities of health and boundless bliss, but also the consciousness of this perfection through reflecting the all-intelligent divine Mind. When Jesus said to his friend, "Lazarus, come forth" (John 11:43), he knew that Lazarus' true selfhood was alive and conscious of reflecting eternal Life. And again, when Jesus said to the sick of the palsy (Matt. 9:6). "Arise, take up thy bed. and go unto thine house," he saw man as healthy, conscious that he was well.

The argument of mortal mind is that the patient is not conscious of health, purity, love, abundant supply, and so on. Therefore when we affirm the truth that because he is the reflection of God, man is conscious of health, abundant supply, buoyant activity, and immutable harmony, the patient's thought is awakened to God's great goodness. Even death itself is only a false belief that man can be unconscious of Life, and the last enemy must eventually yield to the realization that man is always conscious of eternal Life. Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 278): "That matter is substantial or has life and sensation, is one of the false beliefs of mortals, and exists only in a supposititious mortal consciousness. Hence, as we approach Spirit and Truth, we lose the consciousness of matter."

The acknowledgment of Truth which includes man's awareness of perfection can, of course, be applied to any human problem. Just as we can say, "Man is well, and he is conscious of this health," we can also say with accuracy: "Man is intelligent, and he is fully aware of this fact. Man is in his right place, and he knows it. Man is loved, and he knows this to be true." Such statements identify the true selfhood of the patient as the man of God's creating, who is always conscious of Mind; and as affirmations of Truth they are powerful, awakening declarations.

Lack of awareness of Truth stems entirely from the ignorance of mortal mind. The Christ, Truth, is constantly knocking at the door of human thought, saying: "Man is awake. Claim your birthright of this consciousness of good." Consciousness of Truth comes from the loving Father-Mother God. In his consciousness of God one finds his existence as His perfect son. Conscious of God, one bears witness to Him and thereby fulfills—His holy purposes.

We cannot, on the one hand, be completely aware of the omnipotent Giver of all good and, on the other, be conscious of any evil power. Can sickness claim to have power in a consciousness filled with good? There is not even a small cranny for evil in the thinking that is filled with divine Love. Is it any wonder that when we cease to think error and fill our consciousness with Truth, error ceases to be?

Clearly, then, to know the truth in Christian Science we must be certain that our declaration of the unity and perfection of God and man includes the perception that man is fully cognizant of this relationship to good. This powerful declaration must always result in awakening the human thought and raising it to the place where the patient can say with the conviction of fulfilled demonstration, "I am well, and I am grateful."

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