THE TRUE SIGNIFICANCE OF HEALING

The real significance of the healing work of Christian Science is that it awakens mankind to the spiritual realities of being and to the knowledge of man's true individuality as the idea of God. Healing brings to human consciousness the proof that the truth of being is understood. Although we may as yet have proved it in only a small degree, yet that proof is a bow of promise spanning the heavens of thought with the assurance that there is a way out of all discord. The healed and restored body is therefore the outward sign that the spiritual facts of being have been in some measure established in consciousness.

One of these facts—a primal one—is that man is incorporeal because he is the image and likeness of God, Spirit. The perception of this basic truth is evidenced in evergrowing measure in what appears to be a more harmonious body and happier human surroundings. But its greatest significance lies in the destruction of material beliefs by spiritual understanding.

In the measure that spiritual sense fills consciousness with harmony and joy, the fret and disturbances of material existence cease to be manifested in our lives. As the truth that man is spiritual is laid firm hold of, the ills of the flesh do not possess and control us. When the ever-present abundance of God's goodness is realized, our environment expresses fullness and abundance. Because we have grasped something of the significance of man as the image and likeness of God, and therefore the reflection of the divine nature, we recognize faults of character and endeavor to overcome them.

Each testing of our faith brings to us some further unfoldment of Truth and consequently lifts us to greater heights of spiritual understanding. Instantly to turn out any sense of dismay at the problem before us with the realization that here is an opportunity to learn more of God and to gain a deeper understanding of Christian Science will open the door to demonstration.

For example, perhaps we feel in an isolated position, and the sense of loneliness assails us. Here is an opportunity to prove that the warmth and care of an ever-present, conscious Principle enfold us; for as an idea of this divine Principle man must be forever one with it and therefore supported and protected by its love. Perhaps the fear of some disease haunts us. Here is an opportunity for us to realize that because man is an idea of God, he cannot have any inherent discord, any single element of error which can produce disease, decay, or disability. Or perhaps we feel cramped in our environment and thwarted by what appears to be unprogressive and dull work. Here again is an opportunity—the opportunity to dwell more consistently on the spiritual realities of being and to realize that our real activity is reflecting and expressing God. In the light of this truth it is seen that man must always be at the standpoint of great unfoldment of good.

To express God is to express joy, freedom, harmony, and abundance. As we realize this the restrictions and limitations of our human activities will be broken down, and we shall step out into happier activity and a greater sense of usefulness. Whatever the material situation may seem to be, whatever the problem that appears to confront us or the fear that assails us, in reality it is but an opportunity to seek and to find through spiritual understanding the priceless verities of being which the error seems to be hiding.

It is the bearing of the cross that wins the crown of spiritual revelation. All the time Christian Science is teaching us to walk the road our Master trod, which led to his ascension when every mortal belief was overcome. We cannot dispose of the in harmonies of material existence by any other method. The significance of every healing is that it takes us a step nearer our spiritual goal— our ascension.

In the Manual of The Mother Church(Art. XXX, Sect. 7) Mary Baker Eddy tells us: "Healing the sick and the sinner with Truth demonstrates what we affirm of Christian Science, and nothing can substitute this demonstration. I recommend that each member of this Church shall strive to demonstrate by his or her practice, that Christian Science heals the sick quickly and wholly, thus proving this Science to be all that we claim for it." This By-Law shows us that the imperative demand of Christian Science is that it should be demonstrated. It places before us the high goal of spiritual achievement. Sometimes some particular problem seems to defy all our efforts to overcome it, and we are tempted to accept this suggestion and to look to some future time for the difficulty to be cleared away. We may even be tempted to feel that the solving of the problem must wait until we gain a better understanding of Christian Science. But we can no more skip it than a student of mathematics can progress to higher understanding of his subject by skipping a problem which seems too difficult at the moment. The very problem demands this better understanding.

Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"(p.565), "After the stars sang together and all was primeval harmony, the material lie made war upon the spiritual idea; but this only impelled the idea to rise to the zenith of demonstration, destroying sin, sickness, and death, and to be taught up unto God,—to be found in its divine Principle." If there comes to us the urge to rise to the zenith of demonstration, instead of to sit down under the problem, the solving of it must inevitably come. We shall have seen the significance of Peter's words(I Pet. 1:7)when he refers to "the trial of [our] faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth."

We can remind ourselves constantly and confidently that Christian Science heals; that it is the Comforter, the Science of the saving Christ. We have full assurance and authority for expecting this healing in the words of the Master(John 14:12),"Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall lie do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." What courage these words give us! What blessed promise of fulfillment of our efforts. A dawning day of fresh joy and spiritual un-foldment accompanies each problem faithfully and joyously combated.

Our Leader followed the Master's injunctions and demonstrated their full demand in her discovery and practice of this Science of Christianity. The biographies of her life and the reminiscences of those who knew her relate proofs of the sinner cleansed, of the sick healed, and of the dead raised to life. These healings illumined the consciousness of many of those healed with the grand realities of their true being and awakened them to the priceless understanding and knowledge of God. Each healing laid in the hand of the one healed the pearl of great price—a glimpse of his true individuality as the reflection of God.

So if some dark cloud seems to have gathered over us, we can look with courage and hope for the priceless verity—that true significance of healing—which this trial of our faith will bring to us. Jesus spoke these assuring words(John 14:1):"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God believe also in me." In deepest gratitude and in full assurance of the truth we can let our response to these words be, "Surely. I will not let my heart be troubled, for I believe in God and I believe also in His manifestation, and therefore in His ability and power to reveal His presence and to destroy this error." This can be the constant, joyous song in our heart. Error can never put out the lamp of faith-lighted joy.

Not only does the proof that Christian Science heals bring joy and spiritual progress to us, but it also holds up a beacon in the world and points the way out of all human bondage. The poet grasped the true significance of healing when she wrote (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 131),