Spiritual life is the radiancy of God's being made manifest, and this radiancy is manifested in man. Referring to the great verities of Spirit—omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience—Mary Baker Eddy writes in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 110), "These eternal verities reveal primeval existence as the radiant reality of God's creation, in which all that He has made is pronounced by His wisdom good."

True being is radiant being, alive and active in the beauty of holiness, emitting light or the enlightenment of Mind, diffusing wisdom, justice, and love. Far removed from the radiancy of Spirit is the opacity of matter, which is the environment of a so-called mortal and from which Christian Science urges and shows one how to escape.

Prophet and apostle throughout the ages have caught glimpses of God's radiant being, expressed through the Christ, or divine manifestation, and they have urged their hearers to forsake the material and temporal and to press on in their quest and proof of the spiritual. Isaiah was clearly referring to the spiritual sense of existence when he wrote (60:1), "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." The prophet then goes on to point out that darkness, and even gross darkness, shall cover the people, but that the spiritual light will inevitably arise and kings shall come to the brightness of its rising. The long night of materialism is drawing to a close and the radiancy of Spirit is appearing.

The Apostle Peter foretold that in the latter days there would arise those who would stoutly deny the advent of Truth, "scoffers, walking after their own lusts" (II Pet. 3:3). But in spite of the opposition of materialistic thinking the revelation and radiancy of Truth and Love will dawn upon the world and dissolve the opacity of matter, replacing it with the substance of Spirit, the kingdom of God, wherein law is vested in the divine Lawgiver and being is radiant and lovely in a spiritual recognition of God and His Christ. The new heaven and new earth as seen by Peter (II Pet. 3: 13) were revealed also to John Rev. 21). On the small and desolate island of Patmos, alone with God, the beloved disciple became aware of the radiancy of the new heaven and new earth, which now as always await our acceptance.

Those of us who, like Peter or John, are aware of the inability of material existence to make life harmonious will gladly turn from the idols of materialism to find the "radiant reality of God's creation," which exists here and now for those who are ready to let go their earth weights and work consistently and conscientiously for the Cause of Christ. The radiancy of Spirit is every day more apparent. We sometimes fail to realize how much light we have already seen in this connection. Individual spiritual progress, like the progress of our movement, is assured not because we personally make its progress inevitable, but because Christian Science is the second coming of the Christ, Truth, to this age and because the hour has struck for its acceptance and rapid development.

It is the responsibility of the Christian Scientist to proclaim the gospel, heal the sick, raise the spiritually dead, and work assiduously in the Church of Christ, Scientist. God prospers His Church. We can rest assured of the strength and progress of Christian Science because we are aware of the spiritual appearing and development of the Christ as seen in Christian Science.

If we hold to the belief that we are trying hard but not making much progress individually, then we must not be surprised if we find ourselves holding to a belief of stagnation regarding our branch church and its membership. It is belief, not understanding, which suggests stagnation in ourselves or in others. The Cause of Christian Science prospers because it is the Cause of the Christ, the fulfillment of prophecy, and a condition of spiritual evolution which evolves under the guidance of God through spiritual law and with spiritual power. Its progress is thus inevitable.

Mrs. Eddy once said (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 342), "The continuity of The Church of Christ, Scientist, is assured." And she continued, "It will embrace all the churches, one by one, because in it alone is the simplicity of the oneness of God; the oneness of Christ and the perfecting of man stated scientifically." Loyal members of The Mother Church have the opportunity to march with the progress of the Church to which they belong. Since the progress of our Cause is assured, those who are conscientiously working in the Cause of Christ are assured of progress also. Many, not yet members of the Church of Christ, Scientist, may require courage to break away from old established trusts in scholastic theology or materia medica. They will be strengthened and heartened to do so when they see the successful demonstration of those who have fully accepted Christian Science and affiliated themselves with the Church of Christ, Scientist.

A life spiritually lived radiates a glow of heaven and breaks through the darkness of materialism in all directions, bringing healing and comfort to all within its range. One who is modestly living the truth and faithfully loving it may seem a small unit in a great wide world, but with the understanding that "one on God's side is a majority" we know how powerful such a unit must be. We have found the source of all real being to be Spirit and in earth's probationary school we must have the courage to cling to God and recognize man as His image and likeness, His spiritual idea.

The time is at hand, the hour has struck, for development. There is no limbo or period of waiting; no neglect or oblivion for man; no purgatory of suffering for those who understand God. The Christ-way may be straight and narrow, but it is open to all; and now is the time in which to walk in it and to journey along with joy together.

Robert Ellis Key