UNDER the marginal heading, "Loving God supremely," on page 326of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, says that one must follow Christ "in the way of God's appointing." And she says, "We must forsake the foundation of material systems, however time-honored, if we would gain the Christ as our only Saviour." To show how this may be done, she writes: "The purpose and motive to live aright can be gained now. This point won, you have started as you should. You have begun at the numeration-table of Christian Science, and nothing but wrong intention can hinder your advancement. Working and praying with true motives, your Father will open the way." In the next paragraph she says: "Saul of Tarsus beheld the way—the Christ, or Truth—only when his uncertain sense of right yielded to a spiritual sense, which is always right. Then the man was changed." The purpose of his lifework also was changed. He began at once to prepare himself for the special apostolic work of carrying the gospel of Christ Jesus to the Gentile world.
No one has had the error of his ways revealed to him in the unusual manner which brought about Saul's conversion. But there comes a time in each one's experience when he is brought face to face with the main purpose of his life, as measured by the great truths of being, spiritually discerned. Then he sees the necessity of changing his course. He is no longer satisfied with mistaken ideals or ruthless aims. He beholds "the way—the Christ, or Truth," and henceforth finds himself imbued with a clear, strong purpose to live aright.
In a world apparently directed by human opinions, systems, and laws, the purpose to live aright may be variously understood. But, generally speaking, Christian nations and peoples, recognizing higher ideals, take as their standard of right living the teachings of Christ Jesus, who gathered into a few demonstrable precepts the essence of all righteousness. An incident confirming this statement is given in Luke's Gospel, where it is related that a certain lawyer, wanting to know the way to inherit eternal life, inquired of the Master what he should do. Jesus asked him what was written in the law. When the lawyer answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, . . . and thy neighbour as thyself," Jesus said: "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live," plainly showing that the way to inherit eternal life begins with right thinking and right living here and now.
