Perhaps nothing in this world creates more joy in the human heart than light, typifying, as it does, life, activity, beauty, sequence of ideas stimulating growth and aiding perception. In the Bible the word "light," meaning understanding, spiritual vision, enlightenment, is used from one end to the other of its sacred pages. To begin with, there is that wonderful passage in the first chapter of Genesis: "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." The preceding verse gives a very symbolical picture of the so-called human consciousness before the Word of God is spoken; and one translation puts it very forcibly thus: "But the earth was unorganized, empty, and darkness covered its convulsed surface. But the breath of God vibrated over its fluid face. God then said, let there be light, and light came."
The foregoing passage, especially the expression "fluid face," seems so exactly the right description of the condition of thought which exists all over the world to-day. "Fluid" is defined as "having particles which easily move and change their relative position without a separation of the mass, yielding to the least force impressed, and which, when that force is removed, recovers its previous state." As Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 119), "The nature of the individual, more stubborn than the circumstance, will always be found arguing for itself,— its habits, tastes, and indulgences." "Face" is defined as "the surface which presents itself to view." Hither and thither poor humanity is tossed, backwards and forwards, seeking rest and finding none; because all the artificial aids to the light, that light "which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," are unable to reveal the "Sun of righteousness." "Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them;" and still they wearily wander in the desert, because they are unable to hear the voice of Truth, which would lead them safely home. In John we read, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."
It is the habit of many people, in countries where the sun does not appear as frequently as in others, immediately to pull down their blinds and close their windows as soon as it makes its appearance, as though they lived in the tropics. When one is ushered into these abodes of gloom, a sense of deadness and chill seems to oppress one; and one wonders whether the protection of some cherished carpet or piece of furniture warrants such restrictive remedies. Outside, the birds are singing, the sweet scent of flowers fills the air, the trees are nodding in the breeze, the voices of happy children can be heard in the distance; but, within, all this is lost. Gloom and semi-darkness hide the outside beauty. This picture typifies the human consciousness in its fear of being aroused to further action than it deems desirable. It mentally draws down its blinds, shutting out that which shall awaken it from the lethargic dream of life in matter, and almost in a panic cries, ''Let us alone; what have we to do with thee ...? art thou come to destroy us?"
The light which would enlighten the world has come to us again in the teachings of Christ Jesus, through the revelation of their application to the needs of the present age in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. Yet, as of old. Truth comes to His own, and His own receive Him not; and why? Because their eyes have become so accustomed to artificial aids to light that they are frightened at the silent demand of Truth, "I say unto thee, arise." Light, they would say, is the last thing we want. Why! it will make us think, will wake us up and keep us awake, will show us our right responsibility, and uncover that which we do not wish to see. These artificial aids have been sufficient for our forefathers; they will outlast our time! But the human consciousness must one day wake up. The voice of God will sound sometime to each one of us, "Let there be light;" and progress, which Mrs. Eddy tells us is "the law of God" (Science and Health, p. 233), must be obeyed.
But what of those who have sought for the light, as a man dying of thirst seeks for the cooling draught, which shall assuage his pangs? There are such who, in their mental agony, weary of the darkness, have cried out in the bitterness of their heart, "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me." The prayer uttered so often, and always becoming more and more intense as the years have gone by, seemed to return void to the supplicant. Every will-o'-the-wisp of light had been followed, only to find that it led nowhere, and so had been only cheating, until that glorious day when God said, "Let there be light;" and consciousness, purified somewhat of selfish aims and objects and self-seeking, experienced "and there was light."
No student of Christian Science who has seen this real light can ever forget the illumination that followed. However faintly it was perceived, it brought with it the promise, This is "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Consciousness aroused knew that never again could it wander, overwhelmed and hopeless; because it had known light! Never again could the darkness seem real. The experience which follows is very similar to that which we have all experienced at one time or another in walking through a dark tunnel, guided to light and freedom by a tiny speck of brightness at the extreme end. Never for one moment did we doubt that light; never for one moment turn back; never for one moment in a panic beat with helpless hands on the relentless walls which appeared to hem us in. We had seen that pin point of light, far in the distance; and our faith was sufficient in its promise to follow until we were led into the freedom beyond. So it is with the human consciousness. The light of Truth to some may appear faint, and a long way off. The tunnel—material beliefs, old theology—may seem to have walls so thick that they appear impassable; but the wise traveler heeds them not: he has seen the light in the distance, and everything else is forgotten. The way may not be easy. He may reach his journey's end with bleeding feet; but his journey's end will be the heavenly Jerusalem, of which the Revelator says, "There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light."
