The demand of today is the demand of Truth as voiced to Joshua: "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." It is the call of spiritual alertness, the calm, undaunted mindfulness of God's omnipresence, a marshaling of the fundamental and invincible resources of thought and character that acknowledge man and the universe as existing in unassailed freedom and peace to express and glorify God.
In the inspirited fulfillment of the divine demand one is not alone, groping in uncertainty and isolated effort. God is with him. The laws of God, maintaining and governing man and the universe with flawless wisdom and integrity, are with him. Because God's law is godly in character, Christian in effect, and scientifically accurate in operation, Mary Baker Eddy used the simple but comprehensive term "Christian Science" in her explanation of that which is divinely actual and actuating. This is the Science which today reminds us of our spiritual estate and heritage; which inspires and heartens our endeavors. It revokes Paul's encouragement, "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a. sound mind." With characteristic inspiration and enlightenment it meets mankind's need for courage, strength, and steadfastness with its spiritual definition of these qualities and the stirring realization that they are inherent in the nature of God and man in His likeness, and are to be unfailingly exercised in the demonstration of the omnipotence and omnipresence of God, good.
Courage is an essential of character. True courage stems from the actuality of God's allness. It is the sublime knowledge of the divine reality that knows no division of power or estate, but only its own infinite inviolability. Mankind has but dimly perceived this. It has classified courage as a desirable mental quality helpful in the overcoming of evil or in a competitive achievement of good. But because of a mistaken belief that the quality is an uncertain capacity, subject to a legion of limitations advanced by ignorance or fear, the courage of mankind has been devitalized and the realization of man's natural dominion as the son of God has been obscured.
