If sincere Christians, we are striving to follow Christ Jesus by rising above evil. This entails not only the determination to resist sin in all its manifold disguises but also the healing of pain and sickness. In other words, the life of a true Christian (and hence of a Christian Scientist) has its element of warfare with the beliefs of the flesh.

This warfare could seem discouraging and frustrating unless the correct starting point—perfect God and perfect man—is kept uppermost. Then, instead of feeling as though we are forever reaching up to the goal of perfection, we are fortified by the peace-bestowing realization that the child of God remains at this perfect standpoint. Our task is to prove this already existing state of being in our daily lives. This isn't always easy, but we know that when the truth of being is kept before us, we can refuse to be sidetracked or discouraged by error.

Mortal existence is actually but a dream from which we must wake by gaining a consciousness of what life truly is—the expression of the one divine Life. As the creation of divine Principle, man is always conscious of the beautiful qualities of our heavenly Parent and never lacks the capacity to exhibit these qualities. Man is irreversibly healthy, happy, intelligent, loved. Spirit is the undecaying, indestructible substance of his being, and he is forever exempt from the unjust impositions of materialism, such as disease, lack, depletion, and frustration.

To continuously demonstrate this true sense of ourselves and our neighbor requires persistence. What has to be guarded against is the temptation to surrender when the way seems hard, for if we will only continue in the right direction, we will have our reward.

This was illustrated to me when I was on a hike with a friend. We were walking along a narrow lane bordered on both sides with tall hedges that excluded any view. Though we were high-spirited at the outset, our ardor began to wane after we had trudged a long time uphill in the midday sun, with no end of the lane in sight. In fact, we had almost turned back when suddenly the most beautiful panoramic view spread out before us. What a mistake it would have been to retreat! Such incidents illustrate the rewards of not surrendering when the way grows hard. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, tells us, "Imperfect mortals grasp the ultimate of spiritual perfection slowly; but to begin aright and to continue the strife of demonstrating the great problem of being, is doing much." ^{Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 254.}

On our walk, had we realized the beauty that awaited us, there would have been no thought of turning back. Similarly, since Jesus has charted the course to the great good in store for all who follow him, there is no excuse for surrendering to despair through believing evil can outweigh good. We need only persevere to claim the good already awaiting us.

The Bible contains many examples of people who pressed on to a more spiritual sense of things despite unfavorable circumstances. Following the destruction of Baal's prophets, even the spiritually-minded Elijah was tempted to discontinue his stand for Truth. His life threatened by Queen Jezebel, the prophet sank so low in spirit that he apparently questioned the worthwhileness of pursuing a spiritual course. Then while sitting under a juniper tree in utter despair, Elijah was touched by an angel, or thought from God, and aroused. Strengthened by God's messages of truth, he finally reached Mount Horeb and there received a deeper insight into the very nature of God Himself. ^{See I Kings 18-19 .}

Had Elijah stayed under the tree, consumed with self-pity, the world would have been deprived of the spiritual impetus of his achievements. Doesn't this show the importance of holding on, not only for ourselves but for the sake of others? No matter how difficult the way? This was certainly what our Leader did. Although she encountered trial after trial in making the Science of Christ available to all, she didn't give up or fail to complete her work.

If we are sometimes blocked by problems that seem insurmountable and feel like flopping, we can gain inspiration from those servants of Christ who have gone before us. Like them, we can continue Godward for the sake of our fellowman. We can prove our own dominion over materiality. Our fidelity and ultimate triumph over some stubborn phase of evil could be the very stimulus needed to inspire others to reach toward victory.

The persistence Christ Jesus displayed in overcoming ungodlike conditions gives us tremendous inspiration. In spite of injustice, persecution, and resistance, he never yielded. His goal was complete mastery over the flesh, and so he persevered until ascension. He told his followers, "Continue ye in my love." ^{John 15:9.}

Our Leader counsels us: "Beloved students, you have entered the path. Press patiently on; God is good, and good is the reward of all who diligently seek God. Your growth will be rapid, if you love good supremely, and understand and obey the Way-shower, who, going before you, has scaled the steep ascent of Christian Science, stands upon the mount of holiness, the dwelling-place of our God, and bathes in the baptismal font of eternal Love." ^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 206.}

Never surrender. Even in stormy days, our heart can sing that we have found the way out of materiality and its discords and into the perfection of the Son, the living Christ.