TRUE consistency is possible of attainment in the experience of all who turn to Christian Science for healing of any sort. The doubts, fears, and uncertainties inherent in human thought are due to the inconsistency of all that is unlike God. Christian Science is healing these mortal inconsistencies by teaching the perfect consistency of God as omnipresent divine Mind, Life, Truth, and Love, and by revealing man as the perfect image and likeness of God. It teaches that the good and perfect qualities of divine Mind include unchangeableness, stability, permanence, and constancy; for Mind is always the same.
Through an understanding of Christian Science one is enabled to prove that the divine Mind is available to meet every legitimate need. Because this truth is demonstrable, it follows conclusively that the opposite of omnipresent Mind, called mortal mind, evil, error, and matter, is false and nonexistent.
One earnestly seeking the light of understanding in Christian Science, in the hope of being freed from the engulfing difficulties of mortality, will early recognize the inconsistent and erroneous tendencies of mortal mind, and will learn that he must promptly rule them out of thought.
Mortal mind's propositions are predicated of belief instead of understanding, and as the false beliefs engendering human inconsistency are relinquished, the consistency of God's eternal and perfect existence appears and is reflected in human experience. Christian Science is leading mankind into the true understanding of God and His creation. Its healing power is demonstrable, as attested by thousands who have come under Truth's beneficent influence.
The beginner may not always seem consistent to himself or others, either in his efforts or accomplishments; but if sincerity underlies his work the apparent shortcomings will be overcome. He will see that there is no end to good, and that there is no phase of inconsistency or insincerity which will not yield to the divine law, when it is understood and properly utilized.
A beautiful lesson may be drawn from the group of jewels mounted within the breastplate of judgment on the ephod worn by Aaron when he went to minister to God in the holy place of the tabernacle. The breastplate itself might, perhaps, be likened to the clear reflection of God's consistency, which always graces the thoughts of the earnest seeker and practitioner of the truth; and the jewels might be likened to the divine qualities, the shining representations of Love's allness and completeness, resplendent with healing and salvation.
The twelve precious stones set in the breastplate represented the twelve tribes of Israel, or all the children of the kingdom of God. In Christian Science it is found that God's children are pure and perfect ideas of infinite Mind, identified by such qualities as purity, righteousness, spirituality, and love. God's children are not sick or sinful human beings, embodying a personal sense of both good and evil. Therefore, when the awakening thought begins to reach out in Christian Science for a purer sense of God, Mind, Spirit, and to identify itself as a child of God, one finds that one's thinking must be equipped with the constituents of true consciousness, each one of which is a perfect jewel in the breastplate of righteousness. This recognition is indispensable to success in the higher attainment.
Progress in acquiring the qualities of consistency may be slow or fast, but the student will finally possess all of them if his hope is sincerely set to expect a definite fulfillment of the promise; for the Father has already given the son all the qualities of perfection and goodness, with dominion over them. Sincerity is one of the jewels in this setting of Love's consistency, and to begin with, the student may have only this one; but through a consecrated study of the Bible and the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, he becomes cognizant of spiritual growth and begins to recognize the exquisite beauty and value of other jewels — qualities — as they appear in the newly awakened consciousness.
We may recognize some of these as faithfulness, steadfastness, perseverance, trustworthiness, confidence, courage, loyalty, purity, consecration, spiritual-mindedness, and love, included in the foursquare reflection of Love. Each jewel is related to all the others, and every one is surrounded by the "gold" of pure character and sustained by the "fine twined linen" of divine strength. To recognize and utilize the law of good which forever sustains these wondrous qualities is to demonstrate the perfect consistency of Mind's ever-presence and power. Thus enlightened, one sees and comprehends his ability and his need to prove his onenees with God. He recognizes the truth of our Leader's words (Science and Health, p. 354): "Consistency is seen in example more than in precept. Inconsistency is shown by words without deeds, which are like clouds without rain." Error is prevented from dominating human experience, discouragement is routed, and success is gained, when the absolute sinlessness of God and of man in His image and likeness is understood and the law of perfection is allowed to operate in consciousness.
These words from a hymn show that consistent right thinking and right acting are essential to true success:
"And right is right, since God is God;
And right the day must win;
To doubt would be disloyalty,
To falter would be sin!"
To be afraid to proclaim and to do the right, or to doubt the supremacy of God, good, is inconsistent with the teachings of Christian Science, and to be inconsistent is to falter in practice. To take a halfway position, to live in a self-satisfied sense of having acquired all that is necessary of spiritual understanding, is not the demonstration of right healing activity which the Master exemplified for us; for in speaking of his own works and explaining the position of him who would be his follower, he said, "The works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
Sincerity, faithfulness, and steadfastness in good win the day of right and stand like a tree on the bank of a river, strong and well nurtured, bearing the fruits of perseverance in righteousness. The unfaltering heart knows the nothingness of sin, with its attendant sickness, poverty, and loss, and demonstrates the allness of God. Against its healthy growth error's storm of temptation surges in vain.
The genuine Christian Scientist works with the jewels of goodness and truth held closely over his compassionate, healing effort. His work shines with the resplendency of reflected love. He needs no urging to improve his time, better his viewpoint, or strive for growth in grace. He sees that there is yet a tremendous work to be done among those who are without the joy of spiritual enlightenment. While he prays for the salvation of all mankind, he desires to live the sweetness he feels in his heart, knowing that the reflection of Truth will ultimately save all.
The day of universal spiritual enlightenment must come, and the perfect consistency of Godlikeness be realized when all mortals will awaken to the command of Isaiah, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." And blessed are they who, gaining this understanding, reflect the light of perfection to the world, wearing within their hearts the radiant, healing jewels of Godlike consistency — spiritual-mindedness, truth, and love.
