Outpost duty is of great importance. Not only allegiance, but caution, loyalty, and watchfulness are needed to make instant discovery of any hostile activity, and thus to avoid danger. Generally, the sentinel on outpost duty has the most advanced position and must therefore, for his own sake, as well as for the entire outpost and command, exercise the utmost care and vigilance. Sleep for him means possible destruction, and imprudence represents neglect of duty and disloyalty.
Christian Science workers and practitioners are on outpost duty. Their position is an important one, and their loyalty, their courage and watchfulness, should be unshaken. They are men and women who have grasped and accepted spiritual truth, as taught by Christian Science, and are enlisted in the service of God's divine government. The foe they face is mortal mind, with its countless false beliefs of a life separate from God, good. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul very clearly describes this warfare. "Put on the whole armour of God," he said,"that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
When he sent his disciples out into the world, Jesus gave them significant instructions and admonished them, as recorded in the tenth chapter of Luke. He referred to specific situations and occurrences, and showed the disciples how they would win the victory through wisdom and loving patience. When he said to them, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you," he pointed to the boundless dominion of the Christ, whose ever-presence would help them safely to overcome any danger and attack.
