That the things of Spirit or of Truth can be reversed, and even come to naught, is one of the theories and fears of human belief. This belief always bears the stamp of spiritual ignorance by whomsoever it may seem to be entertained. The Master, of whom it was said, "Never man spake like this man," entertained an entirely different view. Mrs. Eddy, in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 163), says of Christ Jesus: "In no one thing seemed he less human and more divine than in his unfaltering faith in the immortality of Truth. Referring to this, he said, 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away!' and they have not: they still live; and are the basis of divine liberty, the medium of Mind, the hope of the race." It were well if mankind would think more of these words; but the world, as now educated, believes in the reality and power of evil, and knows no better than to judge according to its belief in the material senses, which always attempt to belittle God, good.
Now, as against these fears and false beliefs, there is a remedy; and the remedy must of necessity be a very simple one, else it could not be universally understood by humanity, by whom matter has been considered a reality for so long. The remedy that will destroy disbelief in Truth, and will overcome a belief in an evil power that claims to be able to reverse Truth, must be Science—even Christian Science.
For a long time the world has understood true Science to be indestructible. Humanity has seen this indestructibility expressed in the law of numbers. Thus, humanity has learned that all true Science is both simple and demonstrable; and, best of all, it is irrevocable,—it cannot be reversed or destroyed. Just herein, therefore, Science differs in every detail from all material hypotheses, which are always subject to change, —are fleeting and temporal. When, therefore, Christ Jesus uttered his memorable words, he doubtless was thinking only of the truth,—even that eternal and immortal truth which he was daily exemplifying and demonstrating, thus proving that it was essentially Science. No wonder, then, that Mrs. Eddy, perceiving the spiritual meaning of the grandeur of the Master's life, 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." Jesus was, therefore, so thoroughly scientific in his thought, or spiritual alertness, that he never allowed himself to be deceived by the surface indications of matter or material beliefs, or any of matter's so-called laws. "Judge not according to the appearance," he said, "but judge righteous judgment."
Now, if the words and works of Christ Jesus applied only to a "special dispensation," or to a limited time and a limited number of persons, there would be little need that they should be irrevocable; or if the entire work of the Master were merely to build up a basis for a vicarious atonement, our own mental attitude would mean so little in the plan of salvation that it really would not matter to us whether his words were eternal and irrevocable or not. But if Jesus spoke the truth, his words are indestructible. They are just as much the words of Science or the living truth to-day as they were when he walked among men; and they are also just as demonstrable Science to-day as they were when the Master did his work of healing. The divine Principle, which Jesus understood and demonstrated, was not his personal property; nor did he desire it exclusively for himself. He taught it to as many as were willing to receive his word; and this Principle, understood, is just as infinitely efficacious to-day, in proving itself the substance of all Science, as it was in Jesus' hour. How strange it seems that in a little thing like the law of numbers we see exemplified the eternality of true Science! Even if Jesus himself had done the multiplying, two times two would still have been just four—no more, no less. Then should not the law of Spirit, Truth, be to our understanding as immutable and as demonstrable as the law of numbers? Why be so ready to limit the infinite law of Life, Truth, and Love in its operation? Should not humanity gladly accept the law of Spirit, which, as Paul indicates, makes us free from the law of sin and death? This, then, is the great necessity of the hour: to accept Truth whole-heartedly, and to remember that it cannot be reversed.
To those hungering and thirsting after righteousness, or a clearer concept of God and His Christ, there can scarcely come a more acceptable assurance than the one that Truth— even the demonstrable Truth of Christ, as revealed in Christian Science—cannot be reversed. Remember this when you utter the truth silently or audibly, and forget not your glorious inheritance,—your at-one-ment, as the image and likeness of God, with every word of Truth you affirm. Christ Jesus, always ready to realize this at-one-ment, went so far as to say, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." When thus fortified with the truth that cannot be reversed, no thought or mesmeric belief in the reality of matter can enter your consciousness to make you afraid. Listen to Isaiah: "For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?"
