Article June 17, 1985 Issue

Handling the "serpent"— the lie of evil

ELIZABETH BICE LUERSSEN

Christ Jesus gave his disciples power to heal sickness and overturn evil. The Bible records that the Apostle Paul, when shipwrecked on the island of Malta, had a viper fasten on his hand, but "he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm."^{Acts 28:5.} In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes: "Understanding the control which Love held over all, Daniel felt safe in the lions' den, and Paul proved the viper to be harmless. All of God's creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible."^{Science and Health, p. 514.}

Modern-day followers of the Master, Christ Jesus, have access to this same healing power. The writer was quickly freed of alarming effects from a snakebite by turning wholeheartedly to God in prayer.

Our family was flying kites in the hills when I suddenly felt a stab of pain in my foot, which was only partially protected by a sandal. There was an immediate swelling of the foot and leg and a feeling of creeping paralysis throughout my body. My husband drove me to the nearby home of a Christian Science practitioner. With the practitioner's prayerful help over the next few hours, the pain and paralysis disappeared. I had a restful sleep at home that night, and by morning the wound had drained. There were no aftereffects.

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