CSEC LIBRARY -- God's Light

CSEC ON-LINE REFERENCE LIBRARY

God's Light
ELLA W. HOAG, CSD

   We read in Genesis that "in the beginning" God's fiat, "Let there be light," went forth with the inevitable result that "there was light"! From then until now this same command of God has been sounding its awakening note, since enlightenment is always needed everywhere. In no other way can error of every sort be uncovered and dispelled. Jesus' statement, "If a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him," has been proved true in some degree by most men; for who has not experienced the disadvantages of darkness? And who has not cried out many times for more light?

   In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 393) Mrs. Eddy writes, "When Jesus declares that 'the light of the body is the eye,' he certainly means that light depends upon Mind;" and on pages 510 and 511 she further tells us: "Science reveals only one Mind, and this one shining by its own light and governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony. This Mind forms ideas, its own images, subdivides and radiates their borrowed light, intelligence, and so explains the Scripture phrase, 'whose seed is in itself.'" This uniting of light and intelligence is a marvelous revelation in itself, and immediately shows the way of salvation from all darkness, ignorance.

   Now men have generally acknowledged that enough of true intelligence would bring that enlightenment which would displace all ignorance. Until Christian Science was revealed they, however, lacked the understanding that this intelligence is infinite, an unlimited quality of God, divine Mind. Believing, as they did, that it was a human attribute belonging to mortals, they had failed to understand that it expresses divine omnipresence and omnipotence, and so had often been in despair because of the apparent lack of it. To glimpse the truth that divine intelligence is always at hand — available, active, all-powerful — is indeed the light before which all that belongs to darkness must eventually flee.

   Strange as it may seem, however, the gloom of ignorance still claims to linger! It appears to take so long even for Christian Scientists to realize the complete undesirability and futility of darkness; for, while they have often inveighed against its limitations, they have simultaneously resisted the very light for which they have been calling. Has their hesitancy to stay with the light been the result of believing that it uncovers in an unwelcome manner what the darkness claims to hide? Are they still unwilling to do the work necessary to get rid of the things of night? Are they saying, "Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

   The alert Christian Scientist understands that he can never hope to enjoy the blessedness which belongs to light unless he is willing to cast out the things of darkness. When Christian Science first sheds its beneficent rays upon him he may think his only need is to bask in its beauty. He soon finds, however, that light and darkness cannot dwell together; that the light must be utilized if it is to continue to unfold for him the glory of God's ideas. If intelligence is not allowed to destroy the claims of ignorance, the latter will seem to hold the ground. This divine intelligence must then be permitted to expose every belief in an opposite to good, that it may prove evil untrue, valueless, unreal. This means constant effort on the part of the student; and while in the degree of his faithfulness his effort will be unlabored, nevertheless intelligence will reign supreme in the individual consciousness only as it is allowed to do its work of uncovering, rebuking, and destroying all that is unlike itself.

   Here is the work all must undertake and carry on to the same triumphant completion that Jesus demonstrated so perfectly. Since the Scientist knows that this is the only way of salvation from all evil, why should he ever hesitate or falter in his demonstration? Christian Science assures him that light — intelligence — is always with him; that it can never fail to show the mistaken, unreal nature of every supposititious opposite to good and also, in the very uncovering of its falsity, cause its entire annihilation.

   There is nothing for which we should be more grateful than for the limitless nature of this light of divine intelligence. Whatever the problem, we know we can let this light into our thinking until it brings out from under cover every claim of hindrance, every argument of reality in anything apart from God, good; and thus we may prove error's complete nothingness. Our prayer should therefore be that we may be true to this wonderful light which reveals divine Mind as "governing the universe, including man, in perfect harmony." Then with our beloved Leader we shall exclaim (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 275), "Father, we thank Thee that Thy light and Thy love reach earth, open the prison to them that are bound, console the innocent, and throw wide the gates of heaven."

"God's Light" by Ella W. Hoag, CSD
Christian Science Sentinel, April 25, 1925

| Home | Library |