According to Christian Science, the first chapter of Genesis presents God as Spirit and His creation in all its beauty, harmony, glory, and spiritual perfection. Spiritual perception enables us to see that the entire universe moves in perfect accord with the infinite law of Spirit. Man and all creation emanate from God as His radiant, complete idea and are forever at peace.
The second chapter of Genesis records a suppositional creation: Adam, made of sentient dust, and Eve of Adam's rib; she in turn bore two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain became jealous of Abel and slew him. Down through the centuries men have chronicled this mortal dream of material life involving hatred, strife, and death. But with the coming of Christ Jesus, the beloved Son of God, the truth of man's perfect, peaceful, spiritual being, without beginning or end, was brought to humanity.
Jesus' birth was heralded by the heavenly host singing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). Thus was prophesied the glorious, ever-present peace of God, which Jesus' demonstration of the Christ was to bring to human thought.
Jesus' clear perception of Truth enabled him to unsee the distorted pictures of sin and disease as entirely unrelated to man, with the result that those who appeared infirm, sick, or dying were restored to health, freedom, and peace. He taught and proved that God is divine Love, the Life of all being, and multitudes were liberated from the bondage of discord and disease.
Mark's Gospel records the healing of a woman who had suffered from an issue of blood for twelve years. When she had but touched Jesus' garment, "she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague" (5:29). And Jesus compassionately said to her, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." In such manner he brought the peace of God to all whom he healed.
When he walked on the water toward the ship that was carrying the disciples, they cried out with fear, supposing him to be a spirit. But he reassured them by saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matt. 14:27). To the widow whose son was being borne out of the city for burial, he said with the tenderness of love, "Weep not" (Luke 7:13), and restored the young man to life.
Mrs. Eddy reveals in Science and Health the clear distinction between the world cognized by the physical senses and the real world of God's creating discerned by spiritual sense in which we all in actuality live. She says on page 96: "This material world is even now becoming the arena for conflicting forces. On one side there will be discord and dismay; on the other side there will be Science and peace."
Our God-inspired intelligence assures us that man's real being remains forever intact in Science. It is noteworthy that throughout the Bible, materiality is likened to darkness; while God, Spirit, symbolized by the sun, sends forth eternally the light of divine understanding to man and all creation. In this light the unreality of matter is understood.
Power is not in matter or in physical force. The peace of God expresses the allpower of Spirit, the supreme government of divine Principle, Love. Peace is exemplified in the demonstration of Love's dominion over the discords of mortal strivings. The peace of God cannot be torn by strife. The glorious message of the Christ-power reverberates throughout the ages, abiding and abounding in every receptive thought with its peace to troubled hearts.
Material power and its discordant effects are apparent only to the false, physical senses, never apprehensible to real consciousness. Wars, disasters, floods, earthquakes—material events involving the destruction of human life and property—are unknown to God, the all-knowing Mind. They do not affect His government and preservation of man and creation one iota. Adverse circumstances of any nature cannot deprive one of his inviolate intelligent capacity to think clearly, once he understands God's good will to be supreme. They cannot deprive one of his ability to do right and to enjoy the consciousness of health, freedom, and harmonious being.
Man's spiritual individuality, derived from infinite Love, transcends all earthliness. It is preeminently peaceful and powerful, never subject to any suppositional law of heredity or theories of material medicine. The peace of God is inseparably linked with the Christliness of purity, joy, and happiness. These are fundamentally established and active in every individual spiritual consciousness and are manifest in the experience of all who look heavenward for the fulfillment of their cherished hopes and aspirations. Consecrated followers of Christian Science enjoy spiritual peace when the erroneous claims of destructive criticism, sensuous belief, material desires, comparisons, and unholy ambition are firmly resisted and ruled out of consciousness on the basis of their nothingness.
On the eve of Jesus' betrayal he reminded the disciples of the priceless truths that had been revealed to them through his teaching and the marvelous works of God which they had witnessed. After speaking of the Comforter, who would abide with them and further teach them, bringing all things to their remembrance, he said (John 14:27): "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
How great was their need to realize the peace of perfect Love, which was to comfort their hearts so sorely troubled at their Master's leaving them! He assured them he would return, and their sorrow would be turned into joy. This promise was fulfilled in full measure as they beheld him after the resurrection even as they had known him before.
How greatly the human heart needs the peace of Love's bestowal! The seeming strife within and without cannot prevent the fulfillment of the divine purpose for everyone to live peacefully with oneself and others under the government and guidance of Love's omnipresence and power. A truly forgiving heart is assured of God's priceless gift of peace. And gratitude for the great love which the Father bears for His children exalts thought to work with Love in the pure, restful atmosphere of Spirit.
In the ninety-first Psalm, dearly loved of all Christians, we are strengthened and comforted by realizing that God's angels, His thoughts, maintain us under His infinite loving care. They keep us free from all that would tend to harm, enlightening and leading the way for the consummation of our pure desires in accord with the Father's will and good pleasure. These are the angels of Love's presence which preserved the faithful ones during Old Testament times and were with our great Master and our beloved Leader throughout their hallowed individual ministries.
Mrs. Eddy's grateful followers rejoice in the precious gift revealed in the beautiful words taken from her article on "Angels" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 307): "What a glorious inheritance is given to us through the understanding of omnipresent Love! More we cannot ask: more we do not want: more we cannot have. This sweet assurance is the 'Peace, be still' to all human fears, to suffering of every sort."
Imbued with divine grace, we confidently wait, in full expectation, for the fulfillment of the Father's purpose and promise in seeing the brotherhood of love brought to pass in inviolate, unassailable, and triumphant peace.
