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hear Lindsey & John read their CedarS “Met” for the week
Demonstrate the immortality of Life in big and small ways
Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Probation After Death”
for October 16-22, 2023
by John & Lindsey Biggs, C.S of Maryland Heights, MO
541 418 1176 johnbiggscs@gmail.com
541 460 3515 biggs.lindsey@gmail.com
Introduction
As we read this week’s Bible Lesson together, let’s dive deeper into Life – to know what it is and what it isn’t. The Platform of Christian Science (on page 330 – 340 of Science and Health) includes some wonderful ideas of what really constitutes Life (especially planks IV, V, XIX).
The question “What is Life?” in “Recapitulation” on page 468 in Science and Health also gives us some great ideas:
“Life is divine Principle [constant and consistent],
Mind [intelligent and communicating itself],
Soul [beautiful, pure, holy],
Spirit [perfect substance]…
Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time [mortal measurements, timeline, circumstance, material history] is no part of eternity [or your Life].”
Golden Text
“. . . let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4
To “want nothing” sounds like a wonderful state of being – totally satisfied. Complete. Lacking nothing.
This state of being is ushered in as we perceive the presence of spiritual reality. A reality that can never change or be broken into. Supreme harmony. An environment of infinite light, peace, perfection. This is all that God sees and knows.
This state of being already exists – it is already here and now. It is only the mist of the carnal mind that prevents us from seeing it more freely. As “…the sunlight of Truth, which invigorates and purifies” works in our consciousness, it vanquishes that mist enabling us to perceive this divine reality more clearly. (Science & Health, 162) As the mist and matter disappears, the allness of Spirit becomes more apparent and visibly demonstrated.
Yes, it sometimes requires patience to allow this spiritual Truth to dawn on our consciousness. This kingdom of heaven already is. It is the awareness of God’s presence that is already within us. We have the right to see it more and more quickly and completely each day.
Responsive Reading (RR)
“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.” Isaiah 30:21
As we listen for God’s messages, they lead us to the right ideas we need. We aren’t praying alone. God is actually revealing to us what to pray and how to pray. God knows the fact for every situation – the counterfact for every counterfeit. So, while “…we pause, – wait on God” – divine Love brings glorious messages to our consciousness that negate error and heal. (SH, 323:9) God illuminates our thought with light, with spiritual understanding. Whether it’s leading us to a right idea to study with, or simply a powerful message that speaks directly to our thought, God is giving us every true idea/right inspiration we need each moment.
God is patient with us, just as a parent is patient with a child. God is gentle with us, nudging us, and guiding us more and more to realize the joyous reality of God’s salvation. It’s altogether fitting that the Responsive Reading for our lesson on “Probation After Death” includes back-to-back these Old Testament and New Testament insights on salvation:
- “…he will save us: … we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isa. 21:9) and
- “For God hath…appointed us…to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (I Thess. 5:9, 10)
“Salvation” is defined by Mary Baker Eddy as “Life, Truth, and Love demonstrated as supreme over all, sin, sickness, and death destroyed.” (SH, 593) And of course, this comes through the love and understanding of God that Christ Jesus lived and demonstrated for us both before and after his crucifixion.
Spiritual reality is already whole and complete. So, salvation is the an awakening to our own spiritual nature – and that of others, and of all. It is us “catching up” to God – allowing God’s view to take primary residence in our consciousness by exchanging — early and often — God’s views for our false, limited views.
Through “hold(ing) fast to that which is good,” we are enabled to “prove” these spiritual things. (I Thess. 5:21/RR)
Section 1 – Put on immortality here and now
“In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” (cit. B4/Proverbs 12:28)
Jesus overcame death and every form of limitation. So, we can apply the infinite nature to God more and more in our experience – whether through small ways or through more significant demonstrations.
One way is to cherish each spiritual quality and to not let any of our spiritual qualities “die”; to keep alive and lively our hope, our joy, our freedom, our happiness, etc. We can possess and express each of these qualities – and Life is the law of all of them. They are an inherent component of what we are as God’s image and likeness.
In the “platform” of Christian Science on page. 331:5 and in “Recapitulation” on page 468, Science and Health says that “Life is divine Mind”. I love that idea. Life is being communicated to us each moment through divine Mind. It is dependent on divine Mind. Life is Spirit. It is certainly not dependent on matter. The “scientific statement of being” reveals the nothingness of matter. (SH, 468:9)
The path of Life is the path of righteousness – right thinking and acting (as cit. B4/Proverbs 12:28) states above). So, we can see the importance of right thinking and acting! Mary Baker Eddy expands on this:
“Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love.”
(Pulpit and Press, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 3:7–9)
Section 2 – Don’t let fear or pride distract us from waiting on God!
Boy, oh boy! There’s a lot to this story and it’s definitely one that we would do well to read the whole context of, especially the seventeenth chapter of II Samuel (cit. B7). The gist of it is, that Ahithophel actually DID give good counsel, but Hushai was David’s friend, and he gave competing counsel to confuse Absalom and turn him away from Ahithophel’s sound military strategy. Hushai then sent word to David, letting him know of Absalom’s plan as given by Hushai. Ahithophel was so disheartened by this muddying of the waters that he in turn made a very sad decision.
As I’m reading this story with an eye to symbol and substance, I’m seeing an underlying message that injustice and self-seeking pride will never actually be able to act wisely. God’s appointment of David as king of Israel was a divine mandate, not subject to the common practice at the time, and through the ages since, of kingship passing from father to son. Absalom could say he was king all he wanted; it didn’t change the fact that he wasn’t king. From his place of self-seeking pride, he was unable to actually hear the dictates of wisdom.
We need to start from the right premise. Of course, at any time, we can change our course if needed and respond to the angels! But it’s best to begin rightly – and this means not putting ourselves or a personal sense of things, higher than the direction of our Father-Mother.
So that’s all well and good, but then I started to wonder what that had to do with our Lesson Sermon this week! And then I saw that we can’t wait on God, acknowledging our unity with Him and our responsiveness to Him, and at the same time charge ahead with an emphasis on personality and pride. Likewise, we can’t undervalue our identities and roles as the beloved children of God, naturally responsive to His great love.
Here is a humble, touching testimony about how a healing of pride accompanied a sense of physical healing and renewed peace: https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/hs7kau1zy8?s=copylink
Section 3 — Shine more and more each day
“…the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (cit. B11/Proverbs 4:18)
Shining more and more! So, we can expect to find greater views of God; greater spiritual understanding as we put it into practice. As we put the Word of God into effect, it multiplies! The oil multiples as it is put into use. So, it makes sense that our spiritual sense, our spiritual understanding can grow and multiply each day.
“God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 258:13–15)
I love this idea of shining more and more. Gaining more and more each day in the right direction.
What is the pathway of life? These qualities give us a wonderful sense:
“…follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (cit. B13 / Timothy 6:11 follow, 12)
As we embody these qualities more and more, we feel our oneness with God. And the greatest satisfaction comes from being one with God and being able to hear God’s voice.
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (cit. B14/Phil 2:13)
This passage implies such tenderness. It is God who works with us. We are not working alone.
“It is a warfare with the flesh, in which we must conquer sin, sickness, and death,…” (cit. S15/324:13)
We must conquer error, and prove the allness and omnipotence of good. Not the other way around! God is with us as we do this. When we have success in healing, God is glorified. So, God is on the side of the triumph of good and is helping us to see and know the way.
Section 4 – Expect good!
I love the Bible passage that starts off this section, in citation 15 from Psalms. To wait on God actively, must include the sure expectation of good. If I look to my pantry, I expect to find potato chips and last year’s Halloween candy, among other things. And, those things are there! I know where I’m looking or the nature of what I’m looking to, so, I know what to expect as well. The same logic, although much more impactful, applies to our waiting on God. Now, this waiting is not tapping toes, sitting around, merely hoping something happens soon.
This waiting is an active acknowledgment of our presence with God and our unity with God. And that active waiting is spurred on and encouraged by the expectation of good. Now, this expectation is not an outlining – we are not walking up to God’s kitchen counter and ordering five burritos prepared just so. Our acknowledgment of our unity with God is also an acknowledgment that His provision is just, pure, full and appreciable. We expect good! And so, we should live like we expect good.
I feel that’s an important aspect of the healing account related in Bible citation 17/Matt. 9:18-25). Jesus never said, “Ooh, sorry I got held up along the way, now it’s too late.” And he also didn’t try to argue with other people about things. He simply kept healing, looking to God for his information and letting God’s love define his sense of everything that was going on. This expectation of good transformed the entire situation, every time.
Section 5 – Faith and certainty
Something that strikes me about this section is the faith, undergirded with the disciples’ growing understanding, that Jesus is encouraging in his disciples. They had consistently seen the basis and effects of Jesus’ demonstration – his complete devotion to our Father-Mother and always going to God for his information – and now Jesus is commending to them the importance of that persistence approach to God, even if they were not sure how it would all unfold. The certainty he is encouraging is a far cry from the blind faith that some people have; it’s the natural activity of the words sung by the Psalmist:
“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. … My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” (Psalm 62:1, 2, 5)
My expectation is from Him! What a clear, innocent and single-minded approach that we all can practice.
I’m also struck by the certainty which is conveyed in this section. “…he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days,…” (cit. B21/Acts 1:3) This is not just chance happenstance that the writer of Acts is talking about. The author wanted to be very clear that this was real, and not just “fake news.” Paul would also speak about the importance of the reality of this event:
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” (I Corinthians 15:12–14, after cit. B19/I Cor. 15:3, 4)
Paul, the writer of Acts, and all the early workers in the Church wanted everyone to be crystal clear that they were not just talking about nice ideas, but that this was the solid fact, demonstrable truth, and the certain love of God. Mary Baker Eddy would describe the Christ as “divinity embracing humanity” (SH 561:16-20); that embrace was, and is, real!
Section 6 – Life and goodness are immortal
God has promised us eternal life! That means we have the privilege of proving this life here and now! A life without worry and fear, a life without limitation, and a life of freedom.
God is enforcing knowledge of Himself throughout the universe – ensuring that error will not get the victory.
Error is not a place, a person, or thing. It is a supposition that tries to operate in human consciousness. It is never part of divine consciousness. So as our consciousness becomes more in tune with the light, the error is expunged.
This passage from Section 1 is a great benediction:
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (cit. B3/I Corinthians 15:53, 54)
We can put on immortality now — through each patient thought, each kind deed, and by realizing that our actual being, our identity is living in the Kingdom of Heaven right now. We are immortal here and now and a great satisfaction can flow from that understanding.
Enjoy living in this Kingdom today!
The first cache of GEMs of BIBLE-BASED application ideas (from Cobbey Crisler & others) will hopefully be emailed early in the week and the second cache will be emailed later in the week. You can always check for GEM contributions in progress before then at CedarS INSPIRATION website, whether or not you’ve SUBSCRIBED here for this free, inspirational offering.
Also later in the week, look for Ken Cooper’s
”POETIC POSTLUDE”
contributions related to this Bible Lesson.
THANKS to all you PRECIOUS DONORS for ALL of your ONGOING SUPPORT! Every camper & visitor will be blessed by your GENEROSITY, VISION & LOVE!
ANOTHER MATCH WAS MET and its project operationally completed before camp! Thanks to several generous donors to our special A/V Appeal we were able to finish building a CHAPEL A.V. BOOTH that will protect not only new, donated equipment, but also all our hymnals for worship services and for CedarS Sunday Hymn Sings.
If you haven’t lately checked out the GIVING TREE, there are still plenty of other smaller areas of need to fill yet this year! Campers & staff will also be blessed bigtime by the donations made to additional areas of camp, including our horse program, activity equipment, camperships, and Christian Science nursing and practitioner services.
We’re deeply grateful for EVERY GIFT of love & support,
The CedarS Team
P.S. For more about ways to keep CedarS operations ever more green and flourishing and/or to make a PLANNED GIFT, A REQUIRED IRA DISTRIBUTION or an ENDOWMENT GIFT (that will all be MATCHED), feel free anytime to call or text me (Warren Huff, Executive Director Emeritus and Project Manager) at 314-378-2574. I can put you in touch with our Financial Advisor/broker who donates all fees for stock transfers and freely shares tailored, tax-advantaged giving approaches.
