Upon our understanding of what constitutes true existence depend our health, our peace of mind, our spiritual progress, and the happiness that belongs to every child of God. Through Christian Science we are learning that we can gain and retain a clear perception of our God-given freedom—freedom evidenced by release from fear, by more peaceful environment, by a very certain sense that good alone is real. We are beginning to understand that we should not only hope for, but can experience here and now, the peace and harmony that belong to our true selfhood, which God has created. Through clear spiritual thinking we are gaining a constantly increasing perception of reality or true being. We are discovering that our real selfhood has never been touched in the slightest degree by carnal illusions springing from mortal beliefs; that the personal, human concept of existence is mesmeric falsity. Perception of the spiritual truth that man's intelligence emanates directly from divine Mind provides a positive scientific basis from which to work.
God's creation is the forever manifestation of Himself; and the true man, His image and likeness, as the Scriptures unequivocally declare, eternally expresses the qualities and attributes of eternal Mind. The true image or idea of God is forever enfolded by Spirit and always at one with Him. It is therefore clear that as we endeavor to express the desirable attributes of purity, love, honesty, kindness, tenderness, patience, and compassion, we are constantly seeking to manifest our sonship with the Father.
In the Glossary in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy gives the following definition (p. 591): "MAN. The compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind." This "full representation" of supreme intelligence, the spiritual idea of God, is constantly being unfolded through spiritual understanding, and this unfoldment expands in accordance with its unlimited, boundless origin. Man, because he expresses the one Ego, is always within the divine infinitude, a spiritual fact made clear by Mrs. Eddy's statement (ibid., p. 588), "There is but one I, or Us, but one divine Principle, or Mind, governing all existence."
In our work of demonstrating an increasing sense of harmony in daily affairs, we find that something more is necessary than merely the declaration that God is the only power, presence, and Life. We must know that this divine oneness is all there is. When we perceive and realize the finality of spiritual truth, we can relinquish any overburdened sense of anxiety. We concede its actuality, and are eager to accept its benefits. Truth is divinely natural, and neither needs nor permits of forcing. Undivided allegiance to perfect Principle is the great achievement. Perception of the all-presence of infinite harmony is the basis of Christian Science demonstration.
When the understanding of omnipotent Truth is brought to bear upon any inharmonious human condition or circumstance, the situation must eventually yield to the harmonizing effect of God's perfect law. Divine Principle operates unceasingly in the affairs of men, blessing, healing, regenerating. Truth, when understood and applied, imparts a sense of present harmony, exterminating fear, silencing grief, healing disease. The following incident is illuminating. A student of Christian Science believed that she was facing a discordant physical condition, and spent many tense hours endeavoring to overcome it. Through more thorough study of the teachings of Christian Science she suddenly wakened to the fact that the experience through which she seemed to be passing was not actually real, but was simply a mental representation of her own wrong thinking. She saw that the condition manifested what she mentally admitted of error, and that the physical disability must disappear as erring belief was overcome. Working along these right lines she began to relinquish morbid fear, and to realize that in her true selfhood she had never been outside the presence of God. She found health and freedom by perceiving that she had never lost them, since the real man remains forever at the point of living, changeless perfection.
A progressive Christian Scientist is constantly proving that there is but one Mind, God; that mortal mind is mere negation, incapable of identification. When we realize that the word "error" is a name for that which is unreal, we begin to understand that there is nothing from which we need deliverance except our own false concepts. With this understanding we are adequately equipped to cast out aggressive mental suggestions of fear, discouragement, irritation, perturbation of thought of any kind. We find that we need not descend to error's level by contending with it as reality. "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength," we read in Isaiah. The mental attitude of the true Christian Scientist is not contentious, labored, or belligerent toward evil, but ever free, spontaneous, and joyous in his conscious at-one-ment with the truth.
The Christ-idea ceaselessly unfolds to human sense the perfection of God's law, which upholds true being, showing how it may be applied to every need and condition. Such angel messages ever declare God's love for His children. With unflinching faith and spiritual understanding we need to know that never for a single instant is there any separation between man and his Maker, and that we have no intelligence of our own apart from Mind, God. This is exact knowledge. Accepting it as such, we discover that the mortal sense of time, limitation, birth, and death, is utterly false. We understand that continuity, not cessation, is the law of Life.
On page 506 of Science and Health is a statement marvelous for its clarity and power: "Through divine Science, Spirit, God, unites understanding to eternal harmony. The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace." Should we find ourselves counting our labored or laggard footsteps, should victory over apparently impending evil seem ever to recede, then is the time to take refuge in that "calm and exalted thought" which is spiritual apprehension and is at peace. Our God-created selfhood is our only selfhood, our true being. We can maintain a quietness of thought in which is no room for fear, pain, disappointment, mental pressure, belief of impending danger, or the darkness of despair. "Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling," declares the prophet Isaiah, and this "I" is our Father-Mother God.
Creation is continuous, and the spiritual awakening, inspired and sustained by the revelation of Christian Science, is constantly going on in human consciousness. This new birth, this ascending spiritual understanding, reveals true being as a sanctuary of health, harmony, beauty, peace—an abundance of all good. It is an awakening which all may experience; for the open door to heaven is here and now.
Identity dwells in the realm of Spirit, never in the chaos of so-called matter. Truth is bringing to light our true identity, redeeming humanity from the mortal sense of selfhood; and this redemption is irresistible and unceasing, its outcome being the full demonstration of Life eternal. Identity, the reflection of divine Mind, is every hour being more clearly understood, and our true spiritual selfhood is coming to light —selfhood forever perfect, having no other Mind, no other Love, no other Life than that which is linked inseparably with eternal Principle, God.
