The pattern for triumphant living was set by Jesus, who not only understood but proved that Life is God, divine and eternal. His purely spiritual perception enabled him to see perfection in all God's creation. This perception was the operation of the Christ, Truth, which Jesus embodied. In all his marvelous works for the children of men, he demonstrated the spirit of Life, Truth, and Love. Referring to Christ, Jesus said, "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). He proved his unity with God. The divine love and wisdom with which he was so abundantly endowed empowered him to lay hold on Life, to speak with authority and persuasion of the facts of being, and to lead mankind along the narrow way to triumphant living. His is the perfect example of victory through Christ, the victory of godliness, spiritual courage, and irresistible persistence in the truth.
These Christly qualities of thought were conspicuous in Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. Undaunted and unafraid, she pressed on, confident that there was a divinely practical cure for the sins and sufferings of mankind. Many were her trials and disappointments, but great were her hard-won victories. Prayerfully, persistently, courageously, she advanced step by step from one triumph to another. Her prayer of un-selfed love was abundantly rewarded, as it always is.
Through Christ, through the spirit of Love which filled her heart, the answer came. Truth appeared to her expectant thought, the same transforming Truth which Jesus had preached and practiced centuries before. Christian Science, revealed by God to Mrs. Eddy, brought healing on its wings. Our Leader's clear recognition of the Christ as "the way, the truth, and the life" enabled her to write "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." This textbook was then, and ever will be, the key to triumphant living.
Christ, Truth, remedies all the ills or errors of mankind. In speaking of Christ, our Leader says in Science and Health (p. 332), "Christ is the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness." The divine message of love and purity, of righteousness and peace, of abundance and perfection, is speaking to humanity today. Mankind would be happier if they would only slow down their headlong pace and quietly listen for and hear the voice of salvation.
The divine message came to Jesus, and he healed the sick and sinful; it came to our Leader, and she revived the lost art of Mind-healing; it appears to you and to me, and is the truth, which makes us free. Today the countless men, women, and children who through Christian Science have been made "every whit whole" are living evidence of the redemptive power of the Christ.
Those who have conquered fear through the Christ, Truth, know that their freedom is not the result of accident or chance. It is Christianly scientific thinking which enables men to manifest freedom. All human experiences are caused by thought. Victory over sin, disease, and all attendant falsities begins with an unconditional desire of the heart to lay down all for Christ. This desire must be followed by positive and sustained scientific thinking. No one can bypass the test of spiritual worthiness. No one can hope to avoid the fight with the material senses.
The history of Jesus proved this fact. And Mrs. Eddy learned from personal experience that "every mortal at some period, here or hereafter, must grapple with and overcome the mortal belief in a power opposed to God" (ibid., p. 569). Christian Scientists know that the time to battle with the phantom forces of the anti-Christ is now. Nothing is gained by delay. The sooner mortal belief is overcome, the sooner we can enjoy the fruits of victory: love, joy, peace, health, security, success.
How does Christian Science prepare us successfully to challenge the age-old "belief in a power opposed to God," the belief from which arises all strife, all human misery? To learn the divine plan and discipline revealed in Christian Science, a student applies himself diligently to the study of the two authorities on the subject—the Bible and Science and Health. From his daily study and from the solving of simple problems, he becomes more and more acquainted with the demands of Christ: righteousness, obedience, courage, persistence. He learns the truth of the perfection of God and of His creation; actually everything real reflects God's infinite allness, and man is the perfect expression of God and manifests every quality of immortal Spirit eternally.
As the student of Christian Science grows in experience, he finds that the Christ or godliness which he embodies completely equips him for a victorious campaign against evil and sickness, fear and superstition, self-love and self-will. He learns that all supposititious opposites of Truth are falsities or error, without power, presence, or authority. The student soon realizes that the battleground is his own human consciousness and that there will be peace and quiet only as the babble of the material senses is silenced there. It is, therefore, in consciousness that the Christ, Truth, takes command.
But simply a knowledge of the divine truths, which are revealed in Christian Science, is not sufficient to ensure victory. Knowledge of the truth has healing power only when implemented by the spirit of Love and the expression of righteousness. Truth must permeate our consciousness to the exclusion of all doubt.
Before we can prove the power of the Christ, Truth, in human affairs, we must not only know the letter of Christian Science, but we must know and imbibe the spirit of Christ. Then Truth becomes to us a vital, demonstrable power which we both know and feel, even as we know and feel that we are alive.
The curative and protective work done in Christian Science is called Christian Science treatment, or healing through Christianly scientific prayer, whereby the thought of the fearful and suffering one is purified with the healing balm of Love. The practitioner's loving thought inspires confidence in the power of divine Principle; his positive conviction of Love's presence radiates courage and hope; and his unshaken serenity brings peace to the patient's thought, as well as strength and purity. The patient then touches the hem of Christ's garment and demonstrates spiritual understanding. Soon the suffering one is made whole again: the evil habit or the chronic disease disappears; the broken heart or broken home is mended; fear and ignorance are replaced with courage and faith. The patient is renewed, regenerated, and victorious through Christ.
Every right-thinking individual desires peace. As we recognize the Christ within, we find the desired peace of mind. This brings health to the body and harmony to each circumstance. This spiritual state of harmony is the aim of Christian Scientists the world over, because they have enlisted in the greatest movement for peace. They do not cry peace when there is no peace. The battle with animality and hate is not won simply by declaring the nothingness of these traits, nor is complete victory attained in a single skirmish. The daily demonstrations of Truth and Love keep students of Christian Science spiritually trim and alert for further conflict with sense and self.
The struggle to be good and pure and to love our neighbor as ourselves is not always easy. Discouragement will try hard to throw us into confusion and despair, especially if the battle is long and the error unyielding; but we must not budge from our position, except to move forward. We must face the attack with fresh vigor and courage and persist in our faith.
Victory over sin and sickness is assured, for God is on the field, and nothing can stay His hand. In His presence the enemy is powerless. Peace with honor is the divine reward for every obedient and fearless Christian warrior. So let us be done with all fear and with battle fatigue. Let us tighten the armor of righteousness and go forward with renewed courage and strength to destroy the foe and win the crown of life. As we hold firmly to man's perfection, the Christ, Truth, crowns our efforts with victory.
