THE light of Christ, Truth, forever shining resplendently as the infinite idea of the divine Mind, is without beginning and without end. To human sense, however, there seems to be a dawning of this light like the first rays of the morning sun appearing above the eastern horizon. The second chapter of Luke's Gospel portrays the appearing of this light to the Judean shepherds, who, faithfully keeping their trust through the night watches, were receptive to its coming. We read that they were startled for the moment when the effulgence of the divine presence "shone round about them: and they were sore afraid." But the fear was quickly dispelled, for there was heard the angelic message of comforting assurance, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." And, truly, it is ever the mission of the Christ "to give light to them that sit in darkness," and to guide their feet "into the way of peace."
How wondrously does this theme pervade the life of Jesus, the human messenger of the Christ, from the dawn of his marvelous career, through each successive stage of his unfolding experience and on to the transcendent noonday of his ascension above all the elements of earth! Coincident with the light of the Christ, Truth, that penetrated the night vigil of the shepherds, and the glorious morning light that shone about the Marys at the empty sepulcher, came the Christ-message, "Be not afraid"!
Consider why it is that one should not be afraid. What is there to fear if God, good, is All-in-all? The essence of Christ's Christianity, as explained and emphasized in Christian Science, is the omnipotence and omnipresence of God, the perfect Mind, Life, Truth, Love. Upon the rock, or foundation, of God's allness is erected the superstructure of His creation. To perfect cause there can be only perfect effect. This is the basis of all right, spiritual thinking. It is Scriptural through and through. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," proclaimed by Jesus as the inevitable attainment, is the fundamental element of his Christian teaching. John, the beloved disciple, stated in plain language that "all things were made by him [God]; and without him was not any thing made that was made." A perfect creator implies a perfect creation. Evil, therefore, is just what Christ Jesus stated it to be, "a liar, and the father of it;" that is, a self-imposed belief, a supposition, an unreality. Like darkness, evil is a nonentity. Evil is without cause, law, order, or power. There is therefore nothing in all the real universe to fear, because God is All and evil is nothing.
