THE story of Noah's ark presents many helpful and practical lessons to the student of Christian Science. As is well known, it tells of a state of wickedness and corruption in the earth, of a great flood that came and destroyed "all flesh," and of how Noah, being "a just man," was warned of God beforehand, and commanded to build and take refuge in an ark, and to remain there until the flood had ceased. Among other definite instructions given regarding the building of the ark, Noah was bidden to "pitch it within and without with pitch," to make rooms and three stories in it; also a door and a window. When Noah and his family were safely in the ark and the flood was at its height, the ark "was lift up above the earth," thus insuring immunity from all danger and disaster. After the flood, a rainbow spanned the heavens in token of God's promise of security.
The metaphysical teachings of Christian Science throw much light on the narratives of the Bible and reveal valuable and important information as to correct thinking and wise action. The prevailing conditions of thought during Noah's time were probably very similar to those of to-day. The carnal mind still threatens to swamp, overwhelm, overflow, and suppress right thinking; to "send forth a new flood to drown the Christ-idea," as our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, says in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 570); but the command which came to Noah many years ago comes equally to us to-day, "Make thee an ark."
Mrs. Eddy gives the interpretation of "ark" as follows in Science and Health (p. 581): "Safety; the idea, or reflection, of Truth, proved to be as immortal as its Principle; the understanding of Spirit, destroying belief in matter. God and man coexistent and eternal; Science showing that the spiritual realities of all things are created by Him and exist forever. The ark indicates temptation overcome and followed by exaltation."
How, then, are we going to build our ark? To-day rich provision is made by Mrs. Eddy to enable everyone to seek the truth and to find it. The textbook of Christian Science contains this truth, fully explaining and expounding it. The daily study of this book in conjunction with the Bible brings enlightenment and inspiration, transforming thought and lifting it into higher realms, giving to mankind new and clearer vision, purer motives, more selfless desires, improved character and health, and a great yearning for, and by degrees the attaining of, that which alone satisfies, namely, spiritual consciousness. Further, we have all of Mrs. Eddy's other inspired writings, as well as the periodicals of our denomination, the church services, the lectures, the Reading Rooms, authorized practitioners and teachers, all providing us with precious help in discovering the sure foundations of, and sure entrance into, our ark.
The outstanding points in the definition of "ark" are safety; reflection, immortality; understanding; God and man coexistent; God's perfect creation of spiritual realities. The spiritual meaning of these words, realized, constitutes dwelling in the consciousness of divine Truth. Perhaps this standard may seem unattainable, too high even to consider at the present stage of human experience. But we can and must begin to enter the ark by carefully watching our thoughts and words, examining and analyzing our motives, and insisting on expressing all good qualities, such as gentleness, wisdom, honesty, humility, purity, consideration, and so on, in our everyday lives.
It occurred to one student to make a list of every good quality she could discover. To begin with, about one hundred were found. From time to time this list of good qualities was read through, and after noting each one she would ask herself, Can you honestly say you are expressing that quality? Later, she added to the list the supposed opposites of these qualities and followed each one with the question, Can you honestly say you are free from that error? This self examination always brought to light the need for more self-correction, and proved to be a way of advancing.
Continual striving to reflect more of the divine nature, coupled with prayer, study, right desire, self-abnegation, and consecrated effort, helps us, and opens to us the door to more good. But indifference, self-will, and apathy not only are obstructive, but tend to drag our thinking down into the floods of false mortal beliefs.
The last part of the definition of "ark" implies that some progress in better thinking and the exercise of control must be accomplished before we can get very far in our spiritual building. The process is gradual and entails continual overcoming and proving, as day by day more of Truth unfolds to us. The understanding of Truth comes through the revelation of divine Science; and as we look and work upwards and listen only for the "still small voice," we shall glimpse something of the allness and ever-presence of divine Love, a view which brings us indescribable joy. Thus we shall daily be finding our ark or place of safety from the floods of evil suggestion.
When have we to begin this work? When the floods come? The time to build is now. Delay is unsafe, and is like walking to reach a desirable place, but continually following a road which leads in the opposite direction. The farther we go in the wrong direction the greater will be the number of steps needed to reach our destination.
It might be said that our ark must be pitched "within and without" with the strong, impenetrable realization of God's allness, which prevents error from intruding into our thinking. The door of the ark might be likened to the door which our Leader says "shuts out sinful sense" (Science and Health, p. 15); and the rooms, to the many mansions in our Father's house. In God's house there is a place for all His children; none can be shut out of the heavenly kingdom, or be outside its protection and holy purposes. May not the three stories of the ark indicate stages of thought rising ever higher and higher, and the window be likened to the continual inflowing of the light of Truth?
A problem which is common to many students of Christian Science is that of being obliged to be constantly in the presence and companionship of those who are not cognizant of its teachings, or not in sympathy with them; perhaps to be obliged to listen to their conversation about disease and error, their material arguments and points of view, and their great faith in matter and material law; or perhaps to be laughed and jeered at, and even persecuted by material opposition to Truth. In order to keep our thinking clear and undisturbed, we can and must take refuge in the "ark" and so be lifted "up above the earth," and repeat Noah's experience, as described in the words, "The Lord shut him in." Safe in the consciousness of Truth, of the allness of infinite Love, we are upheld and shall rise above the thought-floods of worldliness, materiality, fear, malice, personal sense—all mesmerism.
When Noah was born, his father, Lamech, prophesied of him, "This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands." To-day, the understanding obtained through obedience to Truth enables us in the midst of seemingly overwhelming odds to find refuge in the spiritual ark, and brings us comfort and practical help. In this holy habitation we are with God, safe and happy. Thus does the rainbow, bringing promise, hope, and fulfillment, appear to each of us with the beauty and glory of spiritual joy and compensation.
The characteristic of heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have chosen your part, abide by it, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.
