In times of stress and fear in the world, humanity turns for help to some power outside itself. There are those who claim that they do not believe in a power outside material means for protection, but many others believe that there is an intelligence or a spiritual force beyond human or material capabilities that has the power to protect them.
Students of Christian Science acknowledge this intelligence to be the one infinite, perfect, omnipotent God, their Father and protector. They turn to Him for guidance and, with confident assurance, look to divine Mind for the solution of all their problems.
The Bible reassuringly proclaims, "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (Rev. 19: 6). If God has all power and reigns supreme, then any human government that is not in conformity with God's law of individual expression and freedom is devoid of that which alone can perpetuate it. Without God's power to sustain it, a government has no power to endure. Knowing this, one may be certain of the demonstrability of God's complete control of every situation and of the impotence of any seeming force or power based upon selfish motives.
To avail oneself of the unlimited power and protection of God's government, one must accept Isaiah's prophecy of what the acknowledgment of the Christ, the true idea of God, brings to men (9:6, 7): "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever."
Christ Jesus knew that man's real identity is the expression of God. The acknowledgment of the power of God in the affairs of men must include a desire and a willingness to understand God better and to express the qualities of God as Jesus did. These qualities include justice, mercy, wisdom, goodness, integrity, and love.
The Master realized that without God's help men can accomplish nothing of value, nothing that will bring happiness or harmony. He said (John 5:30), "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." Those seeking their own will rather than the will of God are unable to judge rightly; they forfeit the protection of God's omnipotence, and thus inevitably come to false conclusions and defeat.
There is much room for improvement in this material world. There is need to overcome selfishness, immorality, dishonesty, self-love, mere material pleasure-seeking, and ease in matter. All these false traits of character stem from the belief that there is life in matter and that evil is as real and as powerful as good. Suffering and destruction are not, however, the only means for awakening humanity to the error of these concepts and bringing about a change for the better. Those who know that God is the Ruler of the universe and who utilize the most powerful human force in the world —thinking imbued with Truth and Love— can bring about a change in individual consciousness that will help to redeem and save the world.
Though there may seem to be destruction and material force all about us, we can say with the conviction of God's omnipotence (Ps. 91:7), "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee." The destruction of false ideologies, false beliefs, and false aims will be accomplished in proportion to our recognition of God's power and influence, and thus we shall be protected.
One need not feel that merely the preponderance of material destructive forces will be the deciding factor in the struggle between right and wrong. In the present state of world thought it is necessary that armaments be maintained to act as deterrents to those who would make war and destruction the instruments of their own lust for power. But reliance on God is the most effective defense.
In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" Mrs. Eddy says (p. 278), "To coincide with God's government is the proper incentive to the action of all nations." And she continues: "The government of divine Love is supreme. Love rules the universe, and its edict hath gone forth: 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me,' and 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' Let us have the molecule of faith that removes mountains,—faith armed with the understanding of Love, as in divine Science, where right reigneth."
The "faith that removes mountains" is the confidence in God's power that makes one willing to stand firmly for Principle, that knows that right must prevail because God is on the side of right. Error will finally dash itself to pieces against Principle, but those who adhere to Principle find it a sure defense. This knowledge will strengthen the purpose and action of all who accept God as the only power.
When the motive is right, there are strength and freedom in all decisions and actions. Dishonesty and wrong motives cannot prevail when those who trust in Him acknowledge power to be with God. We must accept God's omnipotence and refuse to acknowledge any other power. God must be seen as the only Mind of all men; as the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-loving Father-Mother of all.
The result of reliance on God's omnipotence is shown in this statement in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy (p. 340): "One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself;' annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed."
At the end of the chapter on Prayer in Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy gives the spiritual interpretation of the Lord's Prayer. The last phrase of the prayer (Matt. 6:13), "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever," is interpreted thus: "For God is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All."
As we pray this prayer, let us never forget that His kingdom, His power, is available to all now and forever.
