IN Genesis we read, "And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." So Noah built an ark for the saving of the elect. But in this age, and in a wider sense, Christian Science is showing the way of salvation to all those who seem submerged in trials and difficulties. This teaching offers to all mankind the refuge of the "ark," which Mrs. Eddy defines in part on page 581 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" as "safety; the idea, or reflection, of Truth, proved to be as immortal as its Principle; the understanding of Spirit, destroying belief in matter. . . . The ark indicates temptation overcome and followed by exaltation." Hence, in addition to offering safety, the ark represents a definite command to all mankind to overcome every temptation, including sickness, and to come out of evil beliefs into the purity and power of spiritual reflection.
In this definition of ark, safety is linked with the idea or reflection of Truth. Christian Scientists do not invoke the protection of Spirit for material ends. They hold to the fact that there is but one Life, one health, one righteousness—spiritual, and spiritually sustained.
Nothing unrighteous can enter the realm of spiritual reflection and of immortal Truth. If we would enter the ark, we must leave error at its threshold. This divine task is accomplished in the measure of each one's application of the teachings of Christian Science, and of his obedience to the definite command, "Come thou . . . into the ark."
