In times like the present, when the entire world is deeply concerned over the protection of moral rights and the security of human freedom, peace, and progress, it is well to turn to the Bible and note the sound and demonstrable teachings of Christ Jesus. In one brief statement Jesus set forth the rule by which one may gain victory over and survive every" human ill, however aggressive, powerful, or real it may seem to be. He said assuringly. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." This profound fact is being proved the world over by students of Christian Science, who, through their devoted study of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, are gaining an ever clearer understanding of the truth about existence as it really is. They are coming really to know and understand God, and they are daily demonstrating dominion, protection, and security.
The perplexing condition of world affairs may provoke one to stop and ponder such questions as these: Why am I here? Why is it necessary for one to be militant? Why are world conditions as they seem to be? The Bible and the teachings of Christian Science clearly and completely answer all such questions. From the mortal or human point of view, Jesus suffered many trying experiences in his earnest endeavor to promote better relations among men. He was militant with regard to evil that he might prove dominion over erring human will, which would destroy righteousness, liberty, and love among brethren. Speaking of all generations, and their intellectual and spiritual advancement and welfare, he said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Could there be a better reason for our existence, and for. our present warfare against evil? Surely, we should welcome an opportunity to take part in proving the power of God, good, over evil. A world upheaval can be made a purifying process. Satan is brought out into the open only to be destroyed.
The alert individual who bravely works with God on the side of righteousness can utilize the impregnable armor of divine Life, Truth, and Love, and achieve the glorious reward of peace, joy, health, and prosperity. It is good to know that through right desire, right thinking, and right acting we can maintain our sure defense against sin, disease, and destruction.
Mrs. Eddy assures us on page 210 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," "Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort." Surely, the great need of the hour is to understand God, and to keep conscious of our real selfhood as the likeness of -the great omnipotent One, and therefore capable of conquering whatever is not good. Of those clothed in the power of Truth, clad in righteous thoughts, Isaiah said: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. . . . This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord."
Throughout the Holy Scriptures we have manifold assurances of the ever-presence. omnipotence, and protecting power of God, or Truth. The Psalmist, through his prayerful communion with God, discerned the real and satisfying peace, protection, and security we have in an understanding of Truth. He confidently wrote in the ninety-first Psalm: "His truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Indeed, it is the truth about God, free to all, which protects men and liberates them from the snares of ungodliness.
Spiritual protection is as ever present as God. and Christian Scientists know by demonstration that God fills spiritual immensity. Mortals become excited and confused only because they do not know or do not adhere to the spiritual truth that protects and liberates. Those tutored in Christian Science keep calm, knowing that because Life is God, Life is infallible. They demonstrate their immunity from the raging thrusts of human tyranny by taking the necessary human footsteps and working to realize that good only is real. We learn in Christian Science that whatever is not good is but a phase of the mortal dream, from which we awake as we come to "know the truth." as we come to know God. The Psalmist said of those who know the truth: "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. ... It shall not come nigh thee."
A student of Christian Science was once faced with an alarming situation. It seemed certain, to mortal sense, that his home and his family would be swept by destruction and devastation. With his wife and little ones beside him, he took a radical stand, clothed in the power of Truth. He turned to his Bible and read the one hundred and twenty-first Psalm. Quietly then he held firmly in thought a truth which had delivered him many years before from what seemed sure annihilation on a battlefield. The infallible truth to which he clung steadfastly and persistently is set forth in support of a noble admonition by Mary Baker Eddy on page 393 of the Christian Science textbook, where she says: "Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely, bestowed on man." What a glorious truth—that "nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man."
As he had done before, this Christian Scientist again rose quickly to the occasion, put on the armor of God, Truth, and confidently defied what seemed to many to be inevitable destruction. And again he prevailed. His home and his family were left untouched and unharmed. When all material means of protection seem inadequate, we can always prayerfully turn to God, Truth, and demonstrate a sure defense and a certain victory.
In Christian Science, Truth and Life are found to be synonymous with God, and therefore invincible, indestructible, and eternal. Because man is the image of God, he is likewise indestructible. As we gain a true understanding of Truth and Life we establish our defense against every human ill. In truth, evil, injury, and death never really occur. Hence, there is in reality no parting and no basis for human fear, suffering, or sorrow.
Truth is indeed impregnable, and this fact is being proved to an ever greater and greater extent by those who really understand and know Truth. As we hold firmly to these truths about existence, we become spiritually minded. And "to be spiritually minded," St. Paul says, ''is life and peace." Surely, eternal life and peace are the inevitable reward for those who know and obey God, Truth.
In the Christian Science Hymnal there is a clarion call to every alert worker in the kingdom of our FatherMother God, which reads as follows:
Soldiers of Christ, arise.
And put your armor on.
Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through His eternal Son.
Stand then in His great might,
With all His strength endued,
And take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God.
