“To infinity and beyond!” (At the speed of thought — because you’ve always been there!)
Application Ideas for the Bible Lesson on “MORTALS AND IMMORTALS” for Nov. 8-14, 2004
By Corde Hanzlik, CS (Austin, TX)
If we didn’t get the message last week that man is spiritual, the Golden Text in “Mortals and Immortals” drives home the point! We are not of the flesh! Jacob will show us in the Lesson that sometimes we have to wrestle with the trick of material sense, but we win!
In the Responsive Reading, Nicodemus sneaks in the night to talk to Jesus. Why? As a Pharisee, a high-ranking leader of the temple and synagogue, he was supposed to be watching and observing Jesus and his teaching for infractions of Jewish law. He knew in his heart, however, that Jesus was a God-authorized healer and teacher. So in humility and perhaps at some risk, Nicodemus came to Jesus. Do you suppose that Nicodemus understood what Jesus told him about being born again? Have you been born again? (Think about it.)
Section 1 The Word of creation
Repeated again from last week, God made us ‘firstfruits,’ not as grass. Forever! Our being is immortal, ever unfolding the manner and manners (different ways) of love that God bestows. (I John 3) We are now the sons of God, always, as Jesus showed us the way through his own purity.
Imagine God, Mind with a clean sheet of drawing paper. How has He drawn us? Marker one in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy tells us. Immortal models of spiritual sense, higher conceptions of loveliness! (247:15) All of us, not just some of us! We are His reflections, forever His. The drawing would never show the counterfeit of God’s man in states and stages of “birth, growth, maturity and decay” (190) that is sadly temporary. Thank heavens for our ‘glorious possibilities’! (288)
Section 2 The soap opera begins
(It would be good at this point to skip ahead to the 4th section to S&H 15 to get the definition of Jacob in order to have it in thought as you are reading the story.) So, back to Sect. 2. Here we have the contrast of the “children of the flesh”, mortal, to “the children of the seed”, immortal. It is interesting how the twins, Rebekah and Issac, presented such distorted and perhaps dysfunctional views of parentage and parents, not entirely different from today’s models. Don’t forget that even before the story that we have in the Lesson, that Jacob has already “stolen” Esau’s birthright. It is easy to understand how Esau could be so angry with Jacob after his blessing was stolen too! But, is this story about the development of Esau or the redemption of Jacob? Keep in mind what Jacob goes on to do with his life (hint:12 sons) as well as his name definition.
The first 2 markers in the Science and Health sum up the human challenges presented through Rebekah, Jacob and Esau. The answer to all of the challenges is in marker 8 (294) God, Mind corrects the thief in order to establish the genuine. “That only is real which reflects God.” (M10. 478)
Section 3 Now what? And What now?
It is explained in Deuteronomy that Jacob is safe. So we know the end of the story, but Jacob doesn’t. He has become quite wealthy and successful in his life, yet he was afraid to face Esau. (Read the chapters in Genesis that tell of Jacob’s adventures. He has some challenging tests in his achievements.) In obedience to God, he travels to meet Esau, but first finds himself and his relation to God. Jacob finds that he is really a prince! As Jacob’s false sense is finally out-wrestled by his real spiritual identity, he demands this blessing of true selfhood. His total character was changed. Literally, a change in name. Remember the Glossary definition? Notice in the Science and Health that Truth and Love smote the error, not Jacob. Let’s not allow error to handle us! “Hold steadfastly…”(M13, 261
Section 4 And they all live happily ever after ……
With the realization of his ‘new’ self Jacob is no longer afraid of Esau. All of the time that the men were apart, it is apparent that Esau learned many lessons, too. He ran to embrace his brother – no hate. Jacob maintained his humility to ask for grace, forgiveness, of Esau. He shares his new understanding of ‘seeing God face to face’ with Esau as Esau is a reflection of that ‘face’, too.
In true brotherhood, the men unite in peace and understanding. Each of them was able to find his divine likeness in one divine parentage. (S&H 17 and 18) Do we sometimes hold onto a grudge instead of forgiving? Hold to the “man of the flesh” instead of the Christ-man? (II Cor). The Science and Health repeats, “one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love”. (M17. 467)
Section 5 Jesus’ wrestling
This was a no-contest wrestling match for Jesus as Jairus came to him to ask Jesus to come heal his dying daughter. The opponent for Jesus? The belief of death. Again, the witness comes from Jairus’ house, “She is dead,” Jesus gave his answer, “Fear not.” Jesus goes to the house. The mourners are there admitting death. Jesus rebukes that argument, “Weep not.” They laughed, perhaps even his disciples, too. His rebuke, “He put them all out.” Then he spoke to the only one who knew that she was not dead, the daughter. “Maid, arise.” She knew. How many times do we not try, give up or listen to the laughter when we have a challenge?
God shows us the light continually. (Ps)
We won’t accept the sense-testimony. Death is not irresistible! (M20, 265) We are not the grass, seed or flower to die! As page 81 (M21) tells us, we “cannot help being immortal.” We just are! Life and death – both cannot be true. S&H 427 makes clear which one is real!
Section 6 Enoch translates! There is no death!
As the Golden Text states, as the “Spirit of God dwells in you,” “pleasing God” Enoch proved, there is no death. So, we are not of the flesh. We, too. please God. We live and walk in the Spirit! (M22)
It is difficult not to be fooled by what we see, but we must hold. To what? “Hold forever the consciousness of existence, … and master sin and death” (428) Mrs. Eddy gives us the gentle nudge of support in that same marker, “We must begin, with the more simple demonstrations of control, and the sooner we begin the better.” When we need to walk on the water, we will. And then in marker 26 (323), we’ll fly! As Buzz Lightyear says, “To infinity and beyond!” (You can make this daily spiritual journey to infinity at the speed of thought — because you’ve always been there!)
(Camp Director’s Note: As the latest in a long series of CedarS weekly lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians, this document is intended to initiate further study as well as to encourage the application of ideas found in the Weekly Bible Lessons. Sent originally JUST to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue in their homes and Sunday Schools the same inspiration felt at camp, CedarS lesson “mets” are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily lesson study in the books. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit of dimension, background and daily applicability to some of the ideas and passages being studied. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone providing unique insights and applications. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of these ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor .)
