Watching Point 172

172 — WATCH lest you stagnate with the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. The concept of God held by these patriarchs was far in advance of any other conception set forth in that age; but the phraseology of this three-fold name would indicate that the understanding of God did not improve or broaden during several generations.

An improving conception of God is the hope of the race; there should never be a stopping point for mortals, since Mrs. Eddy tells us that to understand God is the work of eternity.

No student has yet attained a correct understanding of God. Hence, to stagnate with his present concept — lofty as it may be — would convict him of idolatry, as much as though he worshipped gods of wood or stone, since he still has a human concept of God.

Christian Science sets forth the correct concept of God, and as the student studies this and seeks to understand it, he should feel that each day brings him nearer to this goal. But he should never believe that he has attained it, and can stop all efforts to progress toward it.

Spiritual growth demands a concept of demonstration that is constantly broadening and improving, onward, outward and upward. Our Wednesday evening meetings symbolize this going onward, the church business meetings the broadening outward, and the Sunday services reaching upward.

Early Hebrew history shows a concept of God as applied to the destruction of the enemies of the Israelites, and their establishment as a mighty and prosperous nation. Today students conceive of God as able to heal sickness and cast out the evil of fear and lack, so that they may find their lives harmonious and prosperous. Yet this is still a concept of God that must give place to a higher one, lest we be found stagnating with the same concept of God for three or more successive generations.

One’s spiritual growth depends upon his improving idea of God and his broadening concept of demonstration. Science and Health refers to improved beliefs. It is fitting that one’s first concept and use of demonstration should appertain to the personal benefits he expects to receive from its use.

But Mrs. Eddy once made the following statement in her home, concerning herself, which indicates a higher stage of growth: “She at first demonstrated health in the flesh; now she is demonstrating health outside of the flesh.” This higher step must be a demonstration whereby one becomes unconscious of the flesh, or rises superior to it. The final stage must be the entire elimination of the belief of the flesh, or of material sense.

In the second stage one must seek to become so independent of the belief in a material sense, or body, that he acknowledges no physical condition as real, or as able to interfere with his work for God and man, thus approaching the point at which all material sense is swallowed up in Spirit.

What a sad plight would be the stagnation of a student who spent all his days applying the power of Truth to improve material belief, without reaching the point where he seeks to rise above material sense, through the realization of its nothingness! He would surely deserve the classification of being an idolater. The only way students can avoid that name is to seek to rise higher in their use of demonstration and understanding of God each day.