Why do we sometimes find ourselves struggling with a comparatively small problem that seems to defy healing in Christian Science?
The basic difficulty arises from the supposition that there is an evil mind, or mind in matter, whose misty conceptions obscure the reality of perfect God and His idea, man. But we do not have to accept this supposition. Through Christian Science we learn the unreality of this supposed mind and that we have the right to see and know the spiritual truth of every situation. Christ Jesus promised, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."John 8:32;
Christian Science maintains that good is all because God is All, that there is nothing outside of or additional to God and His idea. This is what we are demonstrating in Science, and the healing that follows this realization proves evil's claim to existence a lie.
All that exists or is true of man is what God sees and knows of him. Any trouble, therefore, is a denial of spiritual truth. But since God has the original and only claim on man, this spiritual truth supersedes and nullifies any claim of error.
God is All. What or who can deny this allness? Only the false supposition of a mind apart from the one and only Mind, God. But as we acknowledge the one divine Mind, we see that man can have no contrary mind to know, evolve, or be aware of evil. Man reflects God, and God is conscious only of good, never of discord. So how can man either produce evil or be its target? The truth that there is but one Mind destroys any suggestion of an evil mind and its evil effects. Although this lie may seem to resist disclosure, it is powerless to prevent its own destruction by Truth.
As we pray to understand more of the perfection of God and His reflection, man, we begin to see more of what is true and less of the problem. Therefore our goal must be to understand more of God's creation. The new light we receive as we progress in our understanding dispels the illusions of discord.
Searching for an actual cause of error is like looking for a needle in a haystack in which there is no needle to begin with. Though self-examination is a vital element in spiritual healing and advancement, we should remember that error is the absence of Truth, hence nothing. God, good, is the only cause and produces only good effects. Knowing this, we bring divine law into operation in our experience, annulling any belief of a material power or law.
Every spiritual truth includes its proof, and this proof is evidenced humanly as healing and regeneration. Our proofs don't eliminate anything real but prove in specific instances the allness of God, good. All we can demonstrate is what is true, and what is true can be demonstrated. A young student proved this when applying her understanding of Christian Science to the need for employment. She was successful in securing a job, but her real joy was shown in her remark about this Science— "It works!"
Christ Jesus' healings proved the ever-present power of God to be equal to the need at hand. He healed the sick, the blind, the disabled, and he fed multitudes. In every case he was proving the ever-operative divine Principle to be supreme over discord, regardless of the discord's nature or longevity. Mrs. Eddy states: "Christian Science, understood, coincides with the Scriptures, and sustains logically and demonstratively every point it presents. Otherwise it would not be Science, and could not present its proofs."Science and Health, p. 358;
In our application of Science to a human problem we may be tempted to entertain doubts and fears as to whether the solution will be correct and harmonious or whether Principle is powerful enough to overcome the difficulty. This kind of thinking is a denial of the Principle of Science, which is God. On the other hand, to completely acknowledge the power of Principle opens our thought to healing. The Bible reminds us, "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."Heb.11:6; And Mrs. Eddy assures us: "The power of Christian Science and divine Love is omnipotent. It is indeed adequate to unclasp the hold and to destroy disease, sin, and death."Science and Health, p. 412;
If our first efforts have not brought results, we can appeal wholeheartedly to God, the Principle of all being. This appeal to the Divine helps us relinquish error-based thinking for higher concepts of reality. Every aspect of our thought must be brought into line with Principle. We can then rest assured we have aligned ourselves with the supreme power, the only power, and this in turn lifts human thought into accord with the law of perfection.
An analysis of our motives for healing may also be helpful. Are we attempting to advance our spiritual growth and understanding or to obtain an easier life in matter? Pleasure in matter may be more enjoyable than pain in matter, but both are based on the erroneous belief of sensation in matter and must eventually be forsaken for the spiritual sense of life. Our motive must be spiritualization of thought if we are to succeed in the long run.
Mortal resistance to spiritual advancement in the form of apathy, self-will, or sensuality can be overcome through scientific prayer—through claiming our freedom from all evil because we are the children of God, who is the source of all good. As we identify ourselves as originating in Spirit and deny that we have any connection with the flesh or matter, our errors will be exposed as false beliefs rather than as an actual part of our being. Then we will more readily discard them as lies.
Regardless of the nature or longevity of a problem, it cannot continue to stand in the face of the recognition of divine Love's all-presence but will be exposed as an impostor, as illusion. No error has ever adulterated the creation of Truth, and this can be proved here and now.
When we have done our work, we need to heed Paul's admonition, "Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."Eph. 6:13. We will stand as we are completely willing to drop any human planning as to how or when the problem will be solved and to rest in the assurance of the supremacy of the divine government and the operation of divine law. When human thought no longer argues for the side of error but is resting in the presence of divine Love, there is nothing to bear witness to error; there are only divine thoughts bearing witness to Truth.
We invite suggestions of failure when we think we are incapable of overcoming discord. We do not, of ourselves, have the power to destroy error. But we can successfully apply the power of Truth, God, which alone overcomes error. God never fails, but mortals sometimes quit before the battle is over. This battle is not a contest between two entities, good and evil, but the annulling of the carnal mind's suggestion that something exists besides good. Error can no longer claim existence when we see it has no substance, power, or place. It is never a condition of matter to be healed but an erroneous suggestion to be handled and destroyed. Our Father gives us the strength to stand even when suggestions of incurability or impossibility are clamoring for attention. Such suggestions are destroyed by Truth along with the physical evidence of disease, for both spring from the false belief in a consciousness apart from God.
Man made in God's image is never in any dangerous situation from which he needs to be rescued. Christian Science brings the understanding that God is always maintaining His reflection in a state of perfection, unfallen.
We all have the opportunity to prove the presence of good, and each healing accomplished solely through spiritual means not only aids our moral progress but proves the Principle of Science to be correct. It is up to each disciple to prove for himself and for mankind that it works!
