In Christian Science we learn that our health, or wholeness, comes from God. It is eternal because Life is eternal. As we learn more of this Life which is God, we also learn more of our own health. Christ Jesus' full understanding of divine Life empowered him to instantaneously heal sickness and disease. And a fundamental aspect of his Christly authority was his knowledge of preexistence.
Mrs. Eddy writes, "The meek Nazarene's steadfast and true knowledge of preexistence, of the nature and the inseparability of God and man,—made him mighty." Miscellaneous Writings, p. 189; A spiritual understanding of preexistence is a healing balm. It brings solace and health to us as it replaces our belief in mortal limitations.
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," Gen. 1:26; we read in Genesis. If God is eternal Life—and He is —then man as His image and likeness lives eternally; and our imperishable health is at one with unlimited Life. In truth we exist untouched by the boxed-in theories of material time and space.
With preexistence expanding our view, even the five physical senses must yield to our eternal spiritual senses. These are included in our true identity, without beginning or end. Through spiritual sense we learn to spiritually see God, to spiritually hear His commands, to feel Christly compassion, to taste goodness. Demonstrating the allness of immortal Life banishes pain and rules out ill health.
Specific insight into preexistence and eternal life can be a focal point in Christian Science healing. Being aware that we are eternally at one with God can be a practical power, a key in perceiving present perfection. Glimpsing our coexistence with God can so uplift and inspire thought that healing is the natural result. But, in truth, all that is going on is our own awakening to reality, to what has always been our true perfect health and well-being. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Man is as perfect now, and henceforth, and forever, as when the stars first sang together, and creation joined in the grand chorus of harmonious being." Mis.,p. 188;
There is specific healing power in recognizing man's eternal continuity with God, Life. Waking to this Christly at-one-ment with God has been known to result in instantaneous physical healing. The awareness of Life as transcending all human confines of time awakens thought from the hypnotic illusion of finiteness and materiality to the reality of God's allness. This —not matter—is what man expresses.
As we progress in understanding, we find materially-based illusions of sin, disease, and death lessening, finally to disappear entirely. Possessed of health eternally, Life, God, has no start or finish. Turning to God, Jesus prayed: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. . . . For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever." Matt. 6:10, 13;
Health is a permanent gift of God. It is spiritual and everlasting. It is based on God's infinitude and not in finite matter. Life, bountiful and unending, liberates mortals. Even fear is laid aside in gaining a sweet sense of preexistence—or spiritual existence.
A true knowledge of this is also practical in refuting the mortal beliefs of age. Paul assures us that when we are fully prepared, spiritually, the body will be changed—"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." I Cor. 15:52; It will be raised "incorruptible," and "the last enemy" (death) will be destroyed. See v. 26; This is a divine promise! We can start demonstrating this higher harmony of health and Life now. The whole swindle of the argument of aging can be put to rest through a "true knowledge of preexistence," of our eternal spiritual continuity in God. "Mortals will lose their sense of mortality—disease, sickness, sin, and death—in the proportion that they gain the sense of man's spiritual preexistence as God's child; as the offspring of good, and not of God's opposite,—evil, or a fallen man," Mis., p. 181; Mrs. Eddy states.
Breaking through the fettered belief of life in and of matter, and perceiving the unceasing and eternal life of Spirit, frees mortals. It gives us a grand perspective and scientific base from which to demonstrate our exemption from corporeal existence. "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Isa. 30:21.
As we awake to Life and health in an entirely different dimension than material sense cognizes—that dimension being reality—we find ourselves progressively safe and free. In this unbroken relationship with God we cannot be separated from eternal Life—even for an instant. We are not mortals; in our true being we are immortals—forever expressing vitality and perfect health.
