Closer to God

FEROL AUSTEN

We read that more and more people are turning to the Bible and going to church. Obviously they are feeling the great need to draw closer to God.

But when they say, "I want to feel closer to God," what do they mean? Do they want to feel closer to Him simply to come under His love and protection? Or do they want to feel closer to Him in order to express in their own lives more of the divine nature—more of divine Love?

Think of the love that permeated Christ Jesus' words to the sick man at the pool of Bethesda: "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." The Bible tells us that "immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked."^{John 5:8, 9;} Jesus was able to see man's real, spiritual being as the perfect reflection of God. And the Principle that enabled Jesus to heal instantaneously was divine Love. We need to express that same Love in our love.

Mrs. Eddy warns us, however, "Love cannot be a mere abstraction, or goodness without activity and power." And prior to this she says, "I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results."^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 250.}

Are we willing to become "active witnesses" for divine Love? In sharing our understanding of God, we don't have to become involved with squalor, violence, hatred. Rather, we should see their unreality and recognize them as lies about God's man and universe. Then we can set about seeing and bringing out the love, integrity, purity, that characterize everyone's true nature. We'll begin to see that Love heals.

Is there a better way to be closer to God?

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