THROUGHOUT Jesus' ministry, no less than at the present time, people asked what they should receive in return for the sacrifices they were supposed to make for Truth's sake. Here it may be said that a sense of sacrifice really is the measure of one's imperfection, and it was rebuked by one of the older prophets, who declared that "to obey is better than sacrifice." A rich young man came to Jesus, asking how he could obtain eternal life; but when the sacrifice of his material possessions was shown to be the way for him, he was not ready to take the step pointed out and "went away sorrowful." It is very evident that to him, as to many at the present time, the material was real and the spiritual intangible if not uncertain; yet he could not have been satisfied with materiality, or he would not have come to Jesus as he did, nor left him with sorrow.
Close upon this experience we find Peter with his usual impetuosity putting in a strong claim for reward, in his statement, "We have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" The reply of the Master needs to be studied in the light of one phrase which goes to the very heart of his teaching; he said, "In the regeneration" your reward will come, when the Son of man shall be lifted up, glorified. Some of them were unwilling to follow him thus far; they were perhaps willing to surrender many material things, but to follow where he led, into the spiritual sense of being, where the only man is God's image and likeness and the only Mind God, Spirit, this truly seems impossible of attainment by any human being. We need not wonder that the disciples shrank from meeting the high demand and asked, "Who then can be saved?" To this the great Teacher responded, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
With God! Is not this the secret of salvation, of eternal life, of every victory over sin, disease, and death? With God means of necessity separateness from materiality, for God is Spirit and His every manifestation spiritual. Of God's man, our revered Leader says, "Man is the reflection of God, or Mind, and therefore is eternal; that which has no separate mind from God; that which has not a single quality underived from Deity" (Science and Health, p. 475). The wisdom of this world may reject this high standard, deeming it impossible of realization, but thousands have been healed of hopeless disease in this day and age through the recognition of its absolute identity with the standard of Christ Jesus. The one vital consideration is, then, to press on toward the goal, the Christ-manhood, following "in the regeneration" until the heights of Truth are readied, the final victory won.
