Christian Scientists are fortunate in having been given in the teachings of their Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, a standard of conduct, a standard of right thinking and living, that remains unaffected by the many phases of material belief encountered in the world today. Christian Scientists are encouraged by the following words on page vii of the Foreword in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," reprinted from The Christian Science Journal of May, 1906: "Deeds, not words, are the sound test of love; and the helpfulness of consistent and constant right thinking—intelligent thinking untainted by the emotionalism which is largely self-glorification is a reasonable service which all Christian Scientists can render their Leader."
Supply is one of the many problems of everyday life about which we can think intelligently. Most of us have considered substance to be only that which we can see, feel, taste, touch, or smell. Often we have thought of it in terms of wealth and property. In other words, substance has been regarded as something material. Christian Science defines "substance" as true thought, spiritual and eternal. And this is in accordance with Scriptural teaching on the subject, wherein we learn that substance is "the evidence of things not seen."
By earnest study of our textbooks, the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," we learn how to prove our way in Christian Science by prayer and by practice. As a result of spiritual instruction and faithful effort, we find ourselves acquiring a new and higher sense of values. Physical healing results when we realize man's unchanging status as the reflection of God, good. This realization displaces in our consciousness the false belief that man is material, subject to sickness and suffering. Thought, thus corrected, receives an impetus to higher demonstration.
In like manner, we learn that there is neither pain nor pleasure in materiality. Anyone who has sought happiness in sensual indulgence or idle amusement, and afterwards has had to find. his way out of the slough of despond into which this mistake inevitably plunges one, knows the utter emptiness of this error. In the Father's presence, found in following Truth's straight and narrow way of selfless living, there is always fullness of joy.
The Christian Scientist should make wise spiritual investments and find his substance in spiritual ideas, in true vision, in spiritual stability. These ideas are not figments of the imagination, impossible of attainment. Christian Science presents to us the ideal universe of Spirit and the ideal man, created by God and governed by perfect spiritual law. The real man is ever complete in conscious being. Our whole endeavor, then, should be to know ourselves each and every moment as God knows His image. This pure, holy, spiritual thinking takes concrete form in a life of consecrated service to God and to our fellow men. Christian Scientists are called upon to live their ideals.
The ability to see the spiritual fact in place of the material falsity is true vision. In the face of trying circumstances, it may seem hard always to keep our vision clear. One student of Christian Science found it helpful at such a time to say to herself, "Either you are the child of God, and therefore at one with His law of harmony, or you are material and subject to every whim of a mortal mind." There was really no alternative. Everything she had learned and proved in Christian Science compelled her to admit the fact that man is a spiritual idea, and this admission applied to her problem brought instantaneous healing.
A problem to be solved is a call to arms; it is a challenge to us to strive to do better still, to look through and over the mists of material sense, to love God more. If the standard of Truth is truly dear to us, we shall hold it high. In season, out of season, our spiritual capacity to know the truth in any circumstance must be constantly exercised. Christian Scientists are in the watchtowers of the world, for Christian Science gives them a reason for the hope that is in them. Their task is to deny power and presence to evil and acknowledge only the reality of good. This spiritual activity is increasingly necessary in their own lives and in the world today.
When we are true to our ideals, when we maintain in our own consciousness the correct spiritual concept of man and his relationship to God, we then achieve a measure of stability that is in direct ratio to our spiritual thinking. Membership in The Mother Church helps one toward a comforting sense of security and safe anchorage.
The goal of every Christian Scientist is the complete and final victory over sin, disease, and death, and we score a point toward this goal every time we maintain—over and above every material objection—our conscious unity with God, the Father. When we show our love for Mrs. Eddy and for the church she established—in "deeds, not words," in "consistent and constant right thinking," which is true substance—we shall discover the solution to our every problem, and rest in the assurance which that bestows.
