THE KINGDOM ESTABLISHED

At the beginning of another year many are asking what further changes are to come as crowns fall and thrones totter in the mighty shaking of all things by the fiat of omnipotent Truth. In the twelfth chapter of Hebrews reference is made to the giving of the Ten Commandments from Mt. Sinai, when everything on the human plane was stirred to the depths because of this far-reaching demand for righteousness. Then the apostle quotes these words from the prophecy of Haggai: "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain." Then we read, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."

As we think upon the experiences of the past four years we rejoice in knowing that there are things which "cannot be shaken," and it matters not in what land or age we live, the assurance is for all time that God reigns and that the world created by Him "cannot be moved," as we read in the ninety-third psalm. In this psalm we are told of the floods which have lifted up their voice, and this is indeed descriptive of present world conditions; but at the same time we have this sure word: "'Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting." This declaration of the divine supremacy has been true in all the ages, but its significance has not been grasped by blinded mortals who have believed in mortal kings and kingdoms whose thrones have not rested upon "justice and judgment."

Anything which is not established by divine Principle and does not exist because of obedience thereto, must be shaken, and the sooner it vanishes the better for the human race. The sad thing is that when humanity in time of tribulation sees the destruction of mortal concepts and fails to reach out for divine aid, it sometimes seems as if it would have been better had the confessedly imperfect conditions continued. This, however, would be impossible if we are to rely upon the words of Christ Jesus, of whom Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 313): "Jesus of Nazareth was the most scientific man that ever trod the globe. He plunged beneath the material surface of things, and found the spiritual cause." Toward the close of his earthly ministry he foretold the present world conditions, which he characterized as more terrible than any which had existed since the beginning of the world, so terrible indeed that if they continued "there should no flesh be saved." He, however, gave the assurance that for the elect's sake the struggle would be shortened and the reign of infinite Mind with its absolute justice be established on earth. In the light of Christian Science we rejoice in knowing that all the things which are not of God are shaken until their nothingness appears, for thus alone would we ever realize the coming of God's kingdom on earth, which implies the overthrowing of every claim to power that does not represent divine justice and mercy.