To bring in the kingdom, right at hand, yet so far from the unrepentant heart, Jesus knew he must have helpers. And he began to gather to him disciples. He, "walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him" (Matt. 4: 18-20). What power of Spirit must Jesus have radiated to produce so prompt and profound a change in the lives of these men! Later the great Leader of the Christian Science movement, Mary Baker Eddy, was to affect men's thought and conduct deeply and radically. As one of the early Christian Scientists put it: "I came from my first interview with Mrs. Eddy and told myself 'I am her man.'" And he was her man from that time, for he left his occupation as professor in a large university and for fifty years followed her in the way of the Christ, which she taught.
Ringing down the centuries, even to us today, hear the Master's compelling words: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Can we do better than give earnest heed to this insistent call? For surely the catch of mankind is still great in all waters, and the fishers still few, so lamentably few! Can we doubt that upon every Christian falls the same commission Jesus gave those fishermen on the shores of Galilee?
Is it not plain that in human consciousness is the entire need of and occasion for salvation? Right there in human consciousness we are to fish for men—individuals, to be saved from false association with wrong concepts and conduct. Right there "down among the poor and lowly" in human consciousness, our Christian work must be done. The centuries have not dimmed that glad voice which called out, "Children, have ye any meat?... Come and dine" (John 21:5, 12). The divine influence is present in some measure in every individual human consciousness. Hence, the hope, the ultimate certainty of salvation from the ills to which flesh is heir.
