THE first verse of the first chapter of Genesis reads, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." And the first sentence of the thirty-first verse is, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." How simply do these words tell the truth about God and His creation! Verily, the writer of them had dipped his pen deeply in the inspiration which flows directly from the source of all truth, God Himself. God, then, is the sole creator of all that really exists; and His creation is "very good."
While many have said that they agreed with the great truth about creation stated in the first chapter of Genesis, they have often done so with a reservation. For have they not regarded matter as real? Have they not believed that matter has a creator and is a creator? But can the material creation, so called, be always regarded as good, since there seems to be so much associated with it that is the very opposite of good? To put it briefly, the spiritually unenlightened human thought fails to apprehend the perfection of God's creation because it believes in the reality of an imperfect material creation, vainly imagining it to be His creation; whereas God's creation is not material but spiritual, consisting solely of perfect ideas. As Mrs. Eddy writes on page 205 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "God created all through Mind, and made all perfect and eternal."
Christian Science teaches, then, the great spiritual truth that God is the sole creator and the universe of ideas the only real creation; and that since God is perfect, creation is likewise perfect. But what does Christian Science say about the so-called material creation? It declares it to be unreal, a false or illusory concept. Christian Science is absolutely true to God as creative Spirit or Mind. It maintains that God is infinite; that the universe of spiritual ideas alone expresses Him, and, consequently, that matter in its every form is entirely without reality. Isaiah's words state the truth: "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me."
Now, it may be asked, Of what value in the affairs of men is this teaching about the entirely spiritual and perfect nature of God's creation? Can it help men in the battle of life? Can it aid them in solving their problems? Christian Science replies that it does precisely these things, and in this way: whenever anyone perceives that, since God is infinite Mind, His creation consists of perfect spiritual ideas, and that the material sense of creation is unreal, he can at once begin to prove for himself man's dominion over so-called matter and material law. He may regard his demonstrations to start with as small; but they are none the less valuable because they do not assume great proportions, since every one of them points to the allness and perfection of God and His creation and the unreality of matter.
The understanding that there is one perfect creation is invaluable in cases of disease. Material sense argues that matter is real and that the material body can get out of order organically and functionally; or, in other words, become diseased. But let one with a diseased sense become acquainted with divine Science and gain an understanding of the one perfect creation, and what will happen? He will be able to deny reality to matter and to all that pertains to matter, disease included. And if his spiritual understanding is clear enough, the belief of disease will vanish from his thought.
It is most important that the student should get a clear realization of the perfection of creation. What prevents this clear realization? Sin will do so. Unspiritual thinking of whatsoever kind will do so. For such thinking is based on a belief in the reality of matter or evil. A great effort may have to be made to overcome the evil which one may be cherishing. Humility, contrition, repentance, all may be necessary; and then prayer to God for strength and courage and persistence to overcome. We can rest assured that the Giver of all good will not withhold His aid from the sincere and contrite in heart. And when thought is purified, when the lies of the illusive material senses are no longer accepted, then will come the realization of the one perfect creation, with its healing power.
"You command the situation if you understand that mortal existence is a state of self-deception and not the truth of being," writes our Leader on page 403 of Science and Health. To attain to this understanding we must gain the spiritual outlook which sees God as the only creator and His spiritual creation as the one real creation. There is no other way. But how splendid that it is revealed to us in the Christian Science textbooks, the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings! To command a situation is to be its master. What hope is here for humanity! The way has been opened whereby all may escape from the bonds of material sense, and this not at some uncertain future period but now.
Christian Scientists often express gratitude to God for His precious gift of Christian Science, and reverence and love to her—Mrs. Eddy— through whom it came. Can they do less, and be consistent? How base it would be to benefit as so many of them have done and give no acknowledgment of what they have received! When Christian Scientists voice their thanks simply and without exaggeration, they are doing nothing more than their duty. But let it be remembered that far more eloquent than words set in polished phrase is the life of demonstration with the understanding heart behind it. It is good to praise the Lord for His goodness; it is right to voice appreciation of the deeds of His faithful ones; it is for us to show forth in our lives the goodness of God which has been revealed by these same faithful ones.
Christian Science courageously proclaims the truth of God's allness and of the one perfect creation. Christian Scientists rejoice in the knowledge of these great verities; and with sincerity, humility, and steadfastness they are doing their utmost to demonstrate them for themselves and to make them known to their fellow-men throughout the entire world. For they would have all men share in the truth which to them means more than all else.
