Every divine command is for the development, progress, and benefit of humanity. Every divine command is imperative because it emanates from Principle, Love, the all-loving, all-knowing Mind. The challenging and exacting command of Christ Jesus (Matt. 5:48), "Be ye therefore perfect," resounds throughout the ages. In this command he further sets forth the celestial standard of perfection, "even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
"Be ye therefore perfect" is not a plea, a request, or a choice. It is an imperative command, a command not to become gradually perfect, but here and now to be one's true self, the expression of health, harmony, joyousness, perfection, the image of God. This authoritative order is without reservation, speculation, or limitation, because to be perfect is our Father's irrevocable ultimatum.
Mary Baker Eddy, the inspired author of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," quoting Christ Jesus' words, "Be ye therefore perfect," and other injunctions, prefaces them with this dynamic admonition (p. 37): "Hear these imperative commands." Imperative commands call for immediate attention and action and are not to be relegated to future consideration or adaptation. "Imperative" signifies, "Not to be avoided or evaded; obligatory; binding; compulsory."
Perfection cannot be measured, weighed, estimated, or conceived of humanly. Its supremacy and grandeur are beyond and above mankind's mortal contemplation or calculation. Perfection demands that same divine Mind which Christ Jesus exemplified. Through the Master's perfect, healing concept of God's reflected glory the sick became whole, sinners were cleansed, and lack gave place to abundance. "Be ye therefore perfect" was manifested in wholeness, completeness. As perfection is spiritually envisioned and justly evaluated, one finds it simple, comprehensible, and attainable as the priceless pearl possessable here and now.
In addition to the previous command to be perfect is another of our Lord's required facets of completeness—to see creation as perfect. Jesus urged the imperative command (Matt. 19: 19), "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," which is fulfilled as we see man perfect, lovable, loving, and loved. This applies to ourselves as well as to our neighbor. What we really love is God's reflected glory, expressed in unselfishness, loyalty, understanding, consideration, and co-operation. These affirmative qualities are devoid of pride, false ego, self-aggrandizement, or self-will.
Purified, sanctified, consecrated thoughts, unadulterated by materialism, undimmed by limitation, and unshaken by false beliefs of imperfection, are spiritual rungs on the ladder to the harmony of heaven. They lead onward and upward to divine heights, where the pure in heart see God, as was promised by Christ Jesus. Purity is obligatory, a requisite in demonstrating and attaining the immediacy of perfection.
In this healing, pure, divine state of consciousness spiritual man is seen in Spirit's likeness. He reflects flawless, perfect Being, ever intact and unimpeachable. Mrs. Eddy, whose teachings are based wholly on the sacred Scriptures, tells us in our textbook (p. 337), "In proportion to his purity is man perfect; and perfection is the order of celestial being which demonstrates Life in Christ, Life's spiritual ideal."
To love oneself could be confusing and conflictive if we did not differentiate between the true and false, the perfect and imperfect, Spirit and matter. Anyone would have difficulty living with oneself, much less loving oneself, if he were to lose sight of his veritable selfhood and live with disappointment instead of assurance, petulance instead of patience, doubt instead of faith, confusion instead of self-discipline.
Self-will and human planning must be replaced by God's supreme will and divine knowing. It is not changed location or position, but alignment of thoughts with God, good, which reveals man's true identity and spiritual individuality. To love oneself is to know oneself as the only knowable man, the likeness of God, perfect as is his Maker.
Our Leader says (ibid., p. 405): "Christian Science commands man to master the propensities,—to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty. Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success."
What an opportunity we have to bless and be blessed as we obey Christ Jesus' imperative commands: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15), and, "Heal the sick" (Matt. 10:8). What an assurance of joyous, steady, profitable employment! To go out into the world permits of no vacillation, no withholding. The Christ's activating command, "Go," is a stimulus, a propelling incentive to move forward spiritually, progressively, and victoriously. To "preach the gospel" means fundamentally to live and practice the Christ, Truth. Sermons silently expressed and manifested in good deeds well done are more efficacious than shouting from the housetops. They speak louder than words.
Healing the sick was included in our Way-shower's missionary service to mankind. He not only overcame every erroneous physical condition, but he left his example for us to emulate. He told his disciples to heal the sick in evidence of God's presence and power. Truth's healing power instantaneously dispels the mists of error with the sunshine and warmth of Love, which reveals the perfection of God's creation.
"Heal the sick" and "Be ye therefore perfect" are identical in essence and effect. They are imperative demands for restoration of health, redemption from sin, and the unbroken continuity and manifestation of perfect selfhood, perfect home, and perfect business.
Let us obey the imperative commands, "Be ye therefore perfect," "Love thy neighbour," "Preach the gospel," "Heal the sick," and earn the benediction (Matt. 25:23), "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
