IS there a student of Christian Science who has not often pondered what he could do to further the coming of the kingdom of heaven on earth? Christ Jesus gave a very clear and unequivocal answer in his Sermon on the Mount. He said (Matt. 5:16), "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Just prior to this statement, in his graphic and picturesque manner, the Master had likened his followers to the salt of the earth and the light of the world and had spoken of the need for salt to be salty and for light to be seen. In extreme darkness even a little light may attract attention from afar, but as darkness diminishes, a brighter light must gleam in order to continue to attract and lead.
Since the discovery of Christian Science by Mrs. Eddy in 1866, much enlightenment has streamed through thought and endeavor. But materialism also claims to glitter in an increasingly attractive way so as to confuse and lead astray those who would otherwise be drawn to the true light of spirituality. Thus it behooves every earnest student of Science to keep increasing his spiritual candlepower, so to speak.
How is one to let his light shine? Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 295), "The mortal mind through which Truth appears most vividly is that one which has lost much materiality—much error—in order to become a better transparency for Truth."
When referring to light, the Master obviously meant the illuminating radiance of Love and Spirit. When we increase our conscious manifestation of Love, our thinking will be lifted to a consistently higher level of spirituality. The glow of Love and the light of Spirit, coupled with beaming gratitude, exert an irresistible attraction to all within the radius of those expressing them.
I once had an interview with a prospective employer during which the fact that I was a student of Christian Science inevitably came out. At this point the other man's eyes lighted up, and with a very animated expression he related that his hotel room in his home city was across the street from a Christian Science church. He said that he was always impressed by the beaming, happy faces of the members of the congregation as they left after the services, and he made it a practice to watch them regularly. He added that he intended to find out what it was that blessed people with such an outgoing sense of happiness.
In considering how we may best let our light shine more brightly, we shall find it helpful to examine the purpose as stated by the Master. Our intent is not to attract attention to ourselves but to bring about the glorification of our Father, which is in heaven.
We shall never reach the point where we express too much love or become too spiritual in our thinking. Conscious of the great debt of gratitude that we owe to the influence of Christian Science on our lives, let us strive mightily to increase our expression of Love, which is the very heart of this Science. Thus we shall lift our thinking to more radiant heights of spirituality.
Let us remember that God, divine Love, is All and that man is the expression of Love. There is but one real consciousness— God—and man is the very emanation of Soul, Mind, ever present and ever active. In our human experience our duty is to endeavor to keep our thinking in such alignment with the one Mind that the wonderful attractiveness of Truth will shine clearly through our transparent consciousness.
Though this may at times seem a demanding assignment, such is the nature of the beauteous radiance of Truth and Love that even the tiniest gleams of its light through the curtain of mortal thought can be of great inspiration, comfort, and attraction, not only to the individual himself but to all around him. Daniel prophesied (12:3), "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
Just as a small amount of dust on a bulb can dim the brilliance of an electric light, so the dust of carnal thinking tries to obscure the resplendence of spirituality, which is native to man. How careful, then, we must be to sweep this covering from our thought! Erroneous traits, such as envy, discouragement, indifference, and self-indulgence, must be zealously guarded against. Should they already seem to be entrenched firmly as habits of thought, we can dislodge them by increasing our conscious expression of love for and gratitude to God, Spirit.
Who has not known at some time or other someone who occasionally reflected such a light of love that all within his or her presence were encouraged, refreshed, and uplifted? The Bible recounts that Moses, on the occasion of his descent from Mount Sinai, and Christ Jesus, at the time of the transfiguration, exhibited remarkable states of spiritual luminosity. Those privileged to be near our Leader, whose thinking was ever progressing to greater spiritual altitudes, also reported the lovely radiance of her countenance.
We can all scale some height of holiness in our daily experience. No dulling beliefs of mediocrity or binding humdrum routine can remain when the refreshing light of Truth has dawned on our consciousness. Christian Science teaches us not only how to kindle this light but how to nourish it and continuously expand it. Let us, as humble and grateful followers of Truth, allow our light to shine constantly with ever-unfolding radiance.
Sometimes it may seem that few persons are really interested in learning more about the teachings of Christian Science, which show one exactly how to follow in Jesus' footsteps. Let us not be fooled. Much of the world has always revered some concept of Christianity. In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy states (p. 372), "Christian Science and Christianity are one." All who have gained some inkling of the subject of Christianity are in truth reaching out, unwittingly though it may be, for Christian Science.
How may we lead them to see what they really want? By letting our own practical spirituality be manifested more brightly in our lives day by day. Paul put it this way (I Cor. 10:31): "Whether ... ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
Many earnest students of Christian Science have been giving increasing attention to Mrs. Eddy's words in "Pulpit and Press" (p. 22): "If the lives of Christian Scientists attest their fidelity to Truth, I predict that in the twentieth century every Christian church in our land, and a few in faroff lands, will approximate the understanding of Christian Science sufficiently to heal the sick in his name. Christ will give to Christianity his new name, and Christendom will be classified as Christian Scientists." Letting our own examples shine forth ever more brightly in accordance with Jesus' commandment will surely be the means of bringing this prophecy to pass.
