In the present world struggle to overthrow injustice and tyranny it may at times appear that those fighting for freedom and right are without a sufficient supply of material weapons to gain the victory at once. Some nineteen hundred years ago Paul wrote to the Corinthians a satisfying answer to this problem in the words, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Paul saw it was not material swords and spears which enabled one to be victorious, but rather was it the expression of Christlike qualities, such as wisdom, intelligence, courage, and love, which was able to overthrow the strongholds of error.
Intelligence and right are always victorious and effective, and our understanding of this fact enables us confidently to repudiate the false suggestion which says that evil, even though armed with mighty material weapons, can ever accomplish anything or vanquish good for a moment. All the material armaments in the world, if cast on the side of wrong, would be unable finally to prevail against one intelligent idea. This truth can be illustrated in mathematics. The wrong concept that two times two is six has no ability or might to oppose the intelligence which reveals the fact that two times two is four. No amount of force ranged on the side of the mistaken concept could overthrow or resist the simple mathematical truth. It makes no difference how many people entertain the mistaken notion, or how powerful may seem the force exercised to maintain it, it must inevitably go down before intelligence. Error is powerless before the weapon of divine intelligence.
God has bestowed upon man spiritual qualities and ideas, and these are effective weapons in our warfare against evil. As we utilize the spiritual ideas of love, wisdom, gratitude, and consecration, they bring humanly the supply for whatever the need may be. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 255) Mary Baker Eddy has written, "As mortals drop off their mental swaddling-clothes, thought expands into expression." God bestows upon us all both ideas and the ability to use them for the benefit of ourselves and all mankind. This Jesus proved when he stilled the tempest and fed the five thousand in a desert place.
