Divine Help

What makes the Bible the beloved book it is to so many? Some there be, it is true, who read it for its literary beauty or historical lore; but the great majority are drawn to its sacred pages because they tell of God’s love and of God’s care for His children. After being driven before tempestuous winds over the rough sea of human life, how sweet to anchor in those calm havens of truth to which the Scripture-beacons guide, there to abide a while until we are inspired anew with courage to resume the voyage.

As soon as the truth began to dawn upon mankind that there is but one God, there sprang up in the hearts of men a faith which could be relied upon in times of trial. Faintly perceived at first, this truth gradually developed until God came to be known, not only as supreme over all, but as the One “altogether lovely,” altogether good. Isaiah, speaking with the authority of marvelous insight into the goodness of Truth, could say, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear,” thus declaring that God hears His children’s cry, be it ever so feeble, and can save at all times, because His hand is unlimited in power. The prophet in his own way was bringing home to the thought of mankind the facts of the omnipotence and omnipresence of God. And did not Jesus, likewise, emphasize the ever protecting care of our Father-Mother, God, when he said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father”? God cares for His creation with infinite love, which is never for a moment relaxed. Too often, however, men either forget the fact or remain ignorant of it; and, in consequence, they fail to realize divine protection.

As Christ Jesus brought home to the receptive thought in his day the truth about the Father’s love and care, so Christian Science has reaffirmed his teaching to this age, and, in addition, has given the Science which underlay it. The nature of God is no longer subject to doubt. The divine nature has been revealed by Christian Science with perfect clarity. Throughout the whole of Mrs. Eddy’s writings the truth is told about God’s being, about His creation, man, and concerning the relation existing between God and man. The truth about this relationship shows it to have been established from all eternity; and that it remains fixed and perfectly upheld. What the weary and heavy-laden need is knowledge of this truth; because, whenever they gain something of an understanding of it, they begin to perceive how God is man’s helper, and how the beneficent relationship between man and the creator is sustained.

In this connection, it is helpful to remember that God is Mind. When God is known as Mind, one perceives that God’s creation must consist of spiritual ideas; for that is the manner in which Mind expresses itself. Thus, creation consists of spiritual ideas, infinite in number. These ideas, being the expression of perfect intelligence, are never in any danger. It is impossible to injure them in the slightest degree, because Mind is also the protecting Principle, Love. Man is the highest idea of Mind; and man comprehends all the lesser ideas. In virtue of this spiritual fact, man has dominion over all. When this relationship is understood,—and precisely as it is understood,—human beings obtain the mastery over so-called human conditions, and God is demonstrated as their helper. In Christian Science, one does not pray for material things; one seeks first “the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;” and the need, whatever it may be, is met in accordance with the law of God. Mrs. Eddy, in “Miscellaneous Writings” (p. 307), has written: “God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment.”

The words of Mrs. Eddy, just quoted, are brimful of truth. God, divine Mind, supplies man with His ideas, and these ideas meet man’s needs. But one must hold fast to the great spiritual facts of existence with unwavering faith, if one would prove their immediate availability. The world is crying out for relief, for healing from all manner of disease and sin. Every Christian Scientist should be a missionary proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation to mankind; and all should long to tell suffering humanity what the Christ, Truth, “which taketh away the sin of the world,” has done for them. After referring in “Unity of Good” (p. 3) to God as All-in-all, Mrs. Eddy writes: “Now this self-same God is our helper. He pities us. He has mercy upon us, and guides every event of our careers. He is near to them who adore Him. To understand Him, without a single taint of our mortal, finite sense of sin, sickness, or death, is to approach Him and become like Him.” God, indeed, is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” That is what Christian Science is proclaiming to the world.