The great struggle of humanity has undoubtedly for its object the full realization of man's identity, with all that this implies. It is needless to say that mankind is by no means conscious of this, unless a large measure of spiritual enlightenment be granted; but just the same it is the dynamic influence forever at work shaping the destinies of the race as no lesser consideration can ever do. It is as if the power which governs the universe was forever whispering to each individual, Be a man. While the world's greatest philosopher, the Nazarene Prophet, called upon men to deny self daily, he did not deal in contradictions when he asked, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"—in other words, lose his identity.
It is very clear that the false sense of selfhood must be given up before man's spiritual identity in the likeness of God can be realized, and yet this outweighs the world. On page 104 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says: "Clothed, and in its right Mind, man's individuality is sinless, deathless, harmonious, eternal....In obedience to the divine nature, man's individuality reflects the divine law and order of being." To this she adds, "Who wants to be mortal, or would not gain the true ideal of Life and recover his own individuality?" One does not live long on the human plane, as a rule, until the so-called struggle for existence takes form as a tremendous effort to lay up treasures on earth, which when acquired always disappoint the one whose real need is spiritual riches. What one possesses of material things counts for nothing in the end, for the true appraisement is finally called for, namely, what one is, and this will explain what he has done and what he possesses.
At the present time as never before men are demanding man's inheritance of opportunity, of justice, and of freedom to be and to possess all that God gives. When Jesus was challenged for claiming, not for himself alone but for all men, man's spiritual inheritance, he must have startled his opposers when he asked, "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?" One can easily imagine his fine irony when he reminded his critics that "the scripture cannot be broken," and held to man's dignity as the Son of God. What Jesus accomplished as the type of real manhood, brings light, in every age, to those who sit in darkness.
