What a beautiful world we might have if every child, man, and woman were convinced that every good thing he undertook would succeed. At present this is not the case, partly because of the inactivity of mortals and partly because of beliefs in defects, heredity, or lack of opportunity. The main cause is that of widespread ignorance of God and of God's law. The understanding of God and of His unerring law leads to success. Long ago Isaiah said of this law (40:26), "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth." "Not one faileth"!
I sometimes ask myself: Do I accept this heavenly law of success as universal? Do I prove it in my own actions? Do I lift up my eyes and behold what God does by His almightiness? Or do I turn from God, Spirit, to the material senses and believe in the possibility of failure?
We are sure to manifest success when we understand man's real God-given dominion. God being almighty Spirit, man in His image is eternally active and spiritual. What is of God is perfect, secure, substantial. What is not of God is imperfect, temporary, doomed to failure. The attributes of God which we recognize and utilize are vital to our individual and collective success. Recognition of the impossibility of failure depends on our correctly discerning that which is of God and on our holding firmly to it.
In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, spiritual sense and material sense are shown to be opposites, the one eternal and the other temporal. Hence it is rational to accept the spiritual fact and to let go of the material seeming. The material senses war against the spiritual; but we have the Biblical assurance (Deut. 28:7), "The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways." Divesting ourselves of false, material beliefs, we are enabled to prove the inseparability of God and man, wherein is no possibility of discord or failure. Constantly to keep thought on the allness of God, Mind, brings success to every right endeavor and results in health, happiness, supply.
If we turn away from God and His image and likeness, man, and behold instead the counterfeit Adam man, we are not likely to demonstrate the spiritual fact that "not one faileth." The Adam man's so-called intelligence is a counterfeit of divine intelligence. Mortal sense cannot perceive, receive, or conceive anything spiritual or permanent, and this negative sense cannot bring success. The spiritual senses are perfect. Perfect activity is the result of perfect thinking.
To divest thought of the evidence of the deceptive physical senses takes self-denial, self-immolation, sometimes a reversal of early training, and a willingness to yield to God. Dallying in this effort undermines the achievements of each individual, prolongs suffering and limitation, and invites failure. It is the will of God that none perish, that not one fail. Christ Jesus said (John 3:16), "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In this age Mrs. Eddy has given us Christian Science, which teaches us what is good and true, how to utilize it and thereby succeed in life.
To succeed we must express the qualities that make for success and eliminate the wrong thoughts that lead to failure. No one is immune to failure while holding error in thought. No one can enjoy unassailable health while thinking in terms of sickness. No one can be morally upright while entertaining sin in thought as something real or attractive. We reap what we sow, and we experience whatever we think.
The qualities leading to success are many. Always there must be integrity in all motives and acts. Each individual must reflect the spiritual qualities which bring freedom from inertia, victory over depletion, recovery from retrogression. Expressing spiritual qualities in our present work and in our inmost thoughts, we naturally experience increasing joy, satisfaction, and achievement.
Thought must be kept uncontaminated by error in order that deteriorating influences may not prevent success. Perhaps we listen to the argument that it is too much trouble to keep thought uncontaminated and that we lack time for the things of Spirit. As long as one is giving time to the fleeting and false, how can he truly say that he has no time for spiritual thinking? One who knows that man is the reflection of his Maker, God, divine Principle, never craves the things of the flesh and never parleys with falsity. Rather, he knows good, loves it, and expresses it always.
Success is not had for the mere asking. We must deserve it. Mrs. Eddy says in "Christian Healing" (p. 8), "When we understand that God is what the Scriptures have declared,—namely, Life, Truth, and Love,—we shall learn to reach heaven through Principle instead of a pardon; and this will make us honest and laborious, knowing that we shall receive only what we have earned." When we faithfully affirm God's allness and perfection, bravely take up our cross, drop our earth weights, and faithfully correct our faults, we eliminate ignorance and failure.
Only those students of Christian Science who apply its teachings in thought, word, and deed can hope to enjoy real success. Even as no merchant can present a bill for undelivered merchandise and expect to be paid, no more can we expect good results from work we have not done.
Lasting success does not come from satisfaction with partial or incomplete accomplishment. Always a rising grade of thinking and doing is essential to the constant realization in our everyday affairs of the divine promise, "Not one faileth." Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, tells us (Science and Health, p. 74), "In Christian Science there is never a retrograde step, never a return to positions outgrown." Out of Science, that is, in matter, in physiology, drugs, and medicine, there certainly is retrogression. We must therefore remain "in Christian Science" in order truly to prosper.
As we go forward in Christian Science, we advance in healing ability. Understanding and healing are inseparable in this Science. Every child, man, and woman is capable of healing in some degree. Not one is without that ability, and it is possible for each to prove that "not one faileth."
Success is essentially progressive. The continuity of good should always be evidenced. In the demonstration of Science, one success leads to another, one moral victory to another, one helpful deed to another, one healing to another. Good is possible and available for every individual. God is impartial in the help He gives. Mrs. Eddy tells us in the textbook (p. 199), "The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible."
Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.—I Corinthians 15:57, 58.
