Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthians declares (15:54), "When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory."
The divine victory over death and the grave shines through the experiences of Enoch, possibly Moses, and Elijah, as recorded in the Old Testament. It is seen in the triumph of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, within the tomb, and in his ascension above matter. So, precedent and proof are set before us.
While a Christian Scientist was searching the Scriptures one day, thought was challenged by Paul's question (I Cor. 15:55), "O death, where is thy sting?" As this question was pondered, a passage from "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mary Baker Eddy came to mind. In this passage (p. 9) the elements of the flesh are set out in such qualities as pride, self-ignorance, self-will, self-love, and self-justification. It was seen that each of these factors of the flesh represents a state of thought which, according to human belief, can respond to the sting of evil. Pride, an easy prey to the indignities of mortal mind, is likely to feel stung and resentful, and self-ignorance to resist aggression with aggression. Self-will, self-love, and self-justification are all easy targets for the darts of the carnal mind. The individual dwelling in this dream of flesh is in much need of spiritual awakening. On page 53 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes of Jesus, "He knew the mortal errors which constitute the material body, and could destroy those errors."
