True healing is not a physical or chemical process of changing matter, but an exchange of false material concepts for the true spiritual ideas that constitute reality and identity. Healing in Christian Science is the action of the Christ, Truth, illuminating consciousness and thus destroying error. The healing is really a byproduct of seeking and knowing the true nature of God and man, and having that Christian knowledge mold our lives.

Matter is the alias of mortal mind. We might say matter is solidified mortal thought. But it is an illusion of that false mind, not a reality. Man as the likeness of Soul, Spirit, includes no elements that can be destroyed or injured. When we realize this and discern that we are not merely mortal, material creatures, we can prevent injury and accident.

The Bible tells of three Hebrews who were cast into a "burning fiery furnace" because they defied Nebuchadnezzar's demand that they fall down and worship his golden idol. ^{See Dan. 3.} They were unaffected by the flames. The men's trust in God was such that they were not intimidated by the threatened consequences of noncompliance. Even if God could not save them, they told Nebuchadnezzar, they would not serve his gods nor worship his golden image. What spiritual conviction!

The three Hebrews were kept safe, and afterward those in the king's entourage "saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them." ^{V. 27 .} The Hebrews' trust in God had been so complete that no evidence of the experience could be found on them. The story illustrates the inviolability of man's true, incorporeal being. The real man God creates and sustains never undergoes trials or harsh conditions.

I recently proved in some degree the power of this divine law. Boiling oil accidentally spilled over my hand. My immediate response was "no!"—based on my understanding that accidents are impossible for God, and therefore for man. Because the true man is spiritual, not material, I knew I could not be burned or injured by material elements. I felt no pain and wiped the oil off. However, a few minutes later severe pain developed, and I realized I had to take an even firmer stand and resolutely refuse to bow down to idolatrous material beliefs.

"Rise in the conscious strength of the spirit of Truth to overthrow the plea of mortal mind, alias matter, arrayed against the supremacy of Spirit," writes our Leader, Mrs. Eddy. "Blot out the images of mortal thought and its beliefs in sickness and sin. Then, when thou art delivered to the judgment of Truth, Christ, the judge will say, 'Thou art whole!'" ^{Science and Health, pp. 390-391.} I rejected the supposition that man is material and subject to evil, and vehemently claimed my real selfhood, constituted of God's indestructible ideas. These cannot be burned or in pain.

The story of the three Hebrews who defied Nebuchadnezzar was in that week's Bible Lesson, ^{In the Christian Science Quarterly.} and it strengthened my conviction in God's power. The same power that proved their immunity was available to me through Christian Science. The Christ, the true idea of God always presenting the indestructible man, is ever present and fully capable of delivering from all evil. The pain rapidly faded, and the burn was completely healed within the hour. What had actually happened was that a clearer comprehension of man's real identity displaced mortal beliefs in consciousness; and because the body reflects thought, it responded to my spiritualized view of my identity. I had reaped the assurance of the Christ— "Thou art whole!"

Healing is not a tentative process of wishing, willing, or outlining some more desirable state, but a deep spiritual conviction— touching all facets of our lives—that defies the bombast of materialism and knows God's, good's, absolute allness and omnipotence as an ever-present reality, having no opposite.