It is often said that "timing is everything." In the practice of Christian Science we might say, "Perspective is everything." Are we viewing ourselves and our relationship to God from a material or a spiritual perspective?

Our answer to this question can play a large role in determining how we view events, relationships, circumstances— which in turn determines our happiness and well-being. If we perceive ourselves as vulnerable mortals, separate from our creator, we're seeing matter and its supposed laws as reality; we think, act, and make decisions on that basis.

If we come to see that reality is instead, in its truest sense, spiritual and wholly good, evolving from God, creative Spirit, and that we can never be separated from infinite good, we find ourselves governed by spiritual law. A growing understanding of this law, and increasing conformity to the moral precepts found in the Ten Commandments, help counteract the false sense that we're subject to chance or accident.

The human condition by its very nature thrusts problems at all of us. Our point of view, material or spiritual, determines how we deal with them. Finding the best solutions requires the cultivation of a spiritual viewpoint through prayer and purification of thought—through putting off the limited human mind with its material beliefs and yielding to the infinite divine Mind, from which can be gained the only true viewpoint. Indeed, from a spiritual standpoint we see that whatever is not harmonious is basically an imposition. Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, brings out this thought when she writes in Science and Health, "The calm, strong currents of true spirituality, the manifestations of which are health, purity, and self-immolation, must deepen human experience, until the beliefs of material existence are seen to be a bald imposition, and sin, disease, and death give everlasting place to the scientific demonstration of divine Spirit and to God's spiritual, perfect man."

The material perspective is a lie, suggesting that evil is solid reality, an inescapable presence, and that divine Life and Love are absent. But in truth evil has never been real or present, and Life and Love are never absent. That's why we can challenge successfully the false beliefs of material existence rather than feel helpless in the face of discord. Science and Health states, "The physician agrees with his 'adversary quickly,' but upon different terms than does the metaphysician; for the matterphysician agrees with the disease, while the metaphysician agrees only with health and challenges disease."

As metaphysicians, we have a duty to follow Christ Jesus in challenging whatever opposes, denies, or discredits God's productive, balanced, and orderly creation. Jesus' adversaries tried to trap him in various ways. But he was never fooled by their tricks; his replies consistently challenged their shallow and selfish motives. In fact, he challenged the whole concept of mortality by his healing, sometimes of multitudes.

Prior to embarking on his healing work, Jesus was tempted by the devil. At each suggestion to misuse his spiritual power, he replied from the spiritual viewpoint, finally dismissing the suggestions with a decisive "Get thee hence, Satan."

We are told in various places in the New Testament that we are God's children. For example, in Romans we read, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." Heirs have responsibilities. As we gain the spiritual perspective on man's true identity, we see that we have a responsibility to follow Christ Jesus' example in challenging whatever is clearly not from God, good.

Years ago one of my arms became numb and then painful. When it wouldn't move at all, and my activities narrowed to what could be done with one hand, I became frightened and asked a Christian Science practitioner for help through prayer. About the third night, when the pain was great, I put on a cassette of hymns produced by The Christian Science Publishing Society. For perhaps two or three hours I paced the living room and literally shouted my affirmation of the spiritual truths included in these hymns. Eventually I lay down on the couch and fell asleep.

That night marked the turning point in the healing. My vigorous and persistent acknowledgment of my relationship to God as His loved child, supported by the prayers of a practitioner, powerfully challenged the imposition of disease. Within a few days the arm was restored to full usefulness and has remained fine.

If untoward circumstances seem to limit our ability to fulfill God's good purpose, we need to use our God-derived authority to challenge the supposed reality and presence of those circumstances. Divine Love is the only source of reality, the only genuine presence, the only power. Good is the only true activity going on. Through prayer we can detect and refute the suggestion that discord is normal or unavoidable. We must challenge every imposition, every lie about God's creation, about His goodness and power. Jesus showed us how and expected those who believe on him to follow his example.

As every Christian Science healing shows, challenging the impositions placed on our ability and right to express God has a powerful effect.

ROMANS

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1, 2