Many years ago, according to an account in the tenth chapter of Luke's Gospel, the most spiritually powerful man who ever lived, even Christ Jesus, appointed seventy of his students to go on a very important mission in preparing the way for his work in other places. He told them that they would be "as lambs among wolves," yet he gave them no material equipment wherewith to protect themselves. Also, he told them to carry no purse, scrip, or shoes. But when they returned, after carrying out their Master's orders, they exclaimed with great joy, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name." And Jesus told them that he "beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." What a proof of divine authority and command over the carnal mind or animality! They had experienced a power not their own, whereby nothing could harm them, a power before which opposition to Truth was forced to give way.
Today Christian Science, revealed in this age by Mary Baker Eddy, is explaining this power as an ever-present means of demonstration by which to overcome the satanic forces of belief in evil and all that would obstruct the spiritual advance of humanity. But just what is the nature of this power that causes Satan to fall as lightning? Is it remote and awesome, austere and tyrannical? No, for it is the nature of Love expressed in reflected action. Because this power is spiritual, it is wholly mental, imbued with the holy elements of Love.
While to the human mind these elements may seem too transcendental to be powerful in application to everyday life, yet they possess penetrating potencies that can dissolve every trace of materiality. Even the tiniest ray of Christly humility and childlikeness, when scientifically applied, is more powerful than any belief in error. The might of unselfed love removes mountains of stubbornness, human will, and hatred and overcomes the adamant and dominant elements of the carnal instincts. Indeed, the elements of the divine nature constitute man's dominion and are mighty forces of scientific Christianity upholding spiritual morale in human consciousness. Thus it is well to discern prayerfully the qualities or elements of thought back of our words and actions, if we would cast out devils rather than be subject to them.
