MARK records that Jesus, shortly before the completion of his earthly ministry, instructed his disciples to be watchful against evil, in the words, "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."
While recognizing the importance of such qualities as wisdom, purity, spiritual understanding, truthfulness, and love, the master Christian did not ignore or neglect alertness or watchfulness, a quality which helps to bring out the fundamentals of Christian character. He had studied the Scriptures and had found in them unquestionable proofs of its efficacy. Though tested by the belief that sensation, satisfaction, and intelligence are in matter, and that sin, sickness, and death are real, he met and mastered every temptation. In so doing he showed us the way—showed us how to do likewise. Could he have accomplished this had he not been watchful in obeying the law of God? That positive understanding of the allness of God, and of error's consequent nothingness, which enabled him to say with authority, "Get thee behind me, Satan," could be gained only through watchfulness over his every thought, word, and act.
In the parable of the sower the Master pointed out the need of watchfulness regarding apathy, pride, and all that goes with the sense of a selfhood apart from God, and showed that these conditions indicate the wrong thinking which would rob one of his God-given dominion. Watchfulness enabled Jesus to condemn impersonal evil. Can we do better than humbly follow the Wayshower's example?
That watchfulness is essential in the preparation of thought to receive the Word of God was recognized also by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and Leader of the Christian Science movement, is evidenced throughout her writings. So emphatic was she on this question that she named our weekly publication the Christian Science Sentinel, and selected for its motto Jesus' words, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch"! A dictionary defines the word "sentinel" thus: "A private soldier placed in some post to watch the approach of the enemy, to prevent surprises, or stop such as would pass without order." What is it we are to watch? Both Christ Jesus and Mrs. Eddy have emphasized beyond question that what we have to watch and guard is our own thinking, our own mental state. Prayerful watching enables us to strive first to assimilate, then to reflect in our words and deeds, more of the divine nature. Thus alone can we prove that we are awaking from the Adam-dream.
In the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. VIII, Sect. 6) the Christian Scientist is instructed "to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind." Can we fulfill this instruction if we are not watchful in refraining from serving other gods? Self-righteousness may affirm that we are serving only the one God. But we might be less hasty in answering this question if we consider that whatever we obey and serve in our thinking and living, contrary to good, is serving other gods. True watchfulness, not only against evil suggestions from without, but also against evil beliefs within our own consciousness, and rejection of every thought unlike God, helps us to separate the dross from the true metal. And armed with watchfulness we find it easier to turn away not only from the grosser evils, but also from such subtle errors as love of ease in matter, discouragement, self-pity, disappointment, and apathy. It is this constant prayerful watching that enables us to detect whether the thought claiming admittance is from God, good, or from the so-called carnal mind.
After we are healed through the ministration of Christian Science, we may be tempted to stop there to enjoy the newly gained comfort. But if we are watchful we shall push forward humbly, meekly, and gratefully to learn more of the divine Mind, which Christ Jesus, our great Way-shower, demonstrated, and to practice more of the truth about God and man in God's image and likeness, which he and Mrs. Eddy revealed to mankind.
Without due watchfulness, however gladly we may have received the Word of God, we may lose sight of it through listening to the suggestion that there is an easier way from sense to Soul than by listening to the "still small voice" and walking the narrow path in the footsteps of the humble Nazarene. Does not our consciousness prove to be the thorny soil of ingratitude and selfishness if, having gained enough of spiritual understanding to be healed and blessed, as well as having been the channel for healing to others, we permit apathy and pride, or discontent and discouragement, to turn us from the Bible and from our Leader's writings in search of an easier way from matter to Spirit? Jesus said, "He that entereth not by the door . . . but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber;" and again, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." It is required of us to think, speak, and live in accordance with the example he left us; and by so doing we may do the works he commanded us to do.
A definition of watchfulness is wakefulness. The genuine Christian Scientist is awake when he refuses to hold to any thought unlike good. Are we watching the trend of our thoughts, as we have been taught in Christian Science to do, lest we fail to obey the law of God and to detect and reject all temptations of evil, not excepting those which approach us often in the guise of seeming good? Can we afford not to be on guard against such foes as passion, resentment, anger, hatred, lust, and revenge? Are we wearing the armor of Truth and Love which Jesus recommended us to wear, and being as "wise as serpents" and as "harmless as doves"?
Mrs. Eddy, aware of the importance of watchfulness, recommends us to be wise by never violating the law of Truth and Love. She says (Message to The Mother Church for 1902, pp. 16, 17), "The mere form of godliness, coupled with selfishness, worldliness, hatred, and lust, are knells tolling the burial of Christ." With our consciousness full of Truth and Love, we are protected from evil thoughts because watchfulness guards our mental door.
No student of Christian Science can ever be too watchful over his own mental home, if he does not want to merit the censure once voiced by the Master: "Could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Yet even for Peter there was hope. That every good thought opens the way for the healing Christ, the life of Peter proves conclusively. Having truly repented, he weeded out of his mental garden the thorns of mortal thinking, and gained the understanding of God and of man, which enabled him to become a worthy channel for expressing, and thus making known to mankind, the truth the Master taught.
Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 25), "The divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus." Thousands of students of Christian Science are daily proving the value of watchfulness, through readiness and promptness to act rightly, in order to express even in a small measure the true humanity of our Master, without which emulation we may fall far short of the grace of God, and may be found expressing the letter that "killeth," not the spirit that "giveth life." Through humility, meekness, and love all may gain the "pearl of great price."
