When Jesus reappeared in the resurrection, he proved that man's individuality is indestructible, that the distinctness of the self is eternal and not subject to changing flesh. The Master had tried to make this fact clear by his precepts and by raising to life those who had died. But the scientific meaning of his teachings and examples was evidently lost on his followers, for even those disciples who were nearest him "mourned and wept" after the crucifixion (Mark 16:10).
We find in Christian Science that real life is the expression of the one Life, God, that this life is individual, that it is inseparable from its source, and that it can never be destroyed. Mary Baker Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 555), "Our great example, Jesus, could restore the individualized manifestation of existence, which seemed to vanish in death." The occasions when restoration of life took place gave vivid evidence that life is not in the flesh and that it is not snuffed out by the human experience of death. Jesus proved the truth of his statement (John 6:63), "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing."
These were strong words, so strong, in fact, that few people have ever been able to comprehend their scientific meaning. There are many Christians today who, although agreeing that existence continues after death, have not given up the belief of life in matter and have still to surrender their belief in material personality for the real, spiritual individuality, which is present as an idea in Mind. And Christian Science is here to help them.
From the beginnings of Christianity, the truth of indestructible individuality has had a tremendous effect upon Christian society. Perhaps its most important effect has been a growing, widespread reverence for individual life. A child is lost, a flier is down at sea, a hunter has disappeared in the wilderness—and no expense is spared to find them. Another effect is seen as the medical faculty devotes untold hours in research and experiment trying to find means for saving the physical body from disease and death. Also great efforts are made by ministers and social workers to save individuals from alcoholism, narcotics, sensualism, and other enslaving habits. Christian Science demonstrates the perfection of spiritual individuality and in a measure restores it in every healing it accomplishes.
In his parable of the lost sheep, which pictured the owner of a hundred sheep who left ninety and nine in the fold while he went into the mountains to find one that had strayed, Jesus taught that the individual is valuable to God. He summed up the lesson by saying (Matt. 18:14), "It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." However far anyone may have wandered from the Father's fold through stubborn sin, physical debility, or even death, he is still precious to his Maker. Divine Love never loses sight of its expression. Through laws of purity and individual life, Love will eventually bring everyone into the fold of Life eternal.
Christian Science explains the value of individual life as divine Life's means of expressing its own indestructible existence. And this scientific clarification brings healing to people, partly because it destroys the common fear of extinction and partly because it demonstrates man's freedom from sin—the destructive element in human thought.
The real man, God's likeness, has no element of sin, hence his deathlessness. His character is Christly, perfect, without the slightest destructive element. Purity, joy, love, justice, wisdom, and other God-derived energies constitute and govern him. The human being, expressing the divine character in certain measure, is protected inwardly by the indestructibility of that character.
Paul said (Rom. 8:6), "To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." To strike at death, we must strike at the carnal elements which end in destruction. To bring to light our indestructible individuality, we must be spiritually-minded, must love and live the character of Christ. However far we may wander, like the lost sheep, there is always a perfect selfhood to return to, always the spotless character of our real individuality to become conscious of. The purpose of Christianity is to cause the individual to conform to the perfect ideal of God that cannot die or become lost.
Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 103), "In Science, form and individuality are never lost, thoughts are outlined, individualized ideas, which dwell forever in the divine Mind as tangible, true substance, because eternally conscious." To the extent that the Christian Scientist always returns to these facts of his real self and insists that this is his only self, he preserves his present sense of form and individuality and does not lapse into a formless, decaying, deteriorating, material personality.
Demonstrating his real consciousness as an individual reflection of Mind, with character and function outlined by Mind, one approximates the individuality that can never be destroyed. One's present sense of life is thus blessed, and real manhood is nearer realization. The flesh, the carnal mind's misconception of man, fades before the light of Christ.
The hard inheritance of materialism, the belief of life in matter, dissolves as Science unfolds the realities of being and reveals the meaning and value of the indestructible self.
Knowing the glorious truth of life eternal, we should never mourn or weep when someone has vanished in the illusion of death. God is caring for each of His ideas, and His love is sufficient for salvation from every misconception of man and his existence. Indestructible individuality is man's only individuality. It unfolds eternally in all perfection by reason of its at-one-ment with divine Life. It can never be lost.
