God with us

There may be times when we feel a situation is beyond our control, when we feel inadequate to deal with a problem. I have heard mothers say, referring to their small children who had been ill, ''I just felt so helpless.'' But a mother will be free of such a feeling when she remembers that wherever she is, at whatever hour, the law of God is immediately available. Then the feeling of helplessness will be replaced by a confident sense of peace, an awareness of God's presence with us, cherishing, guiding, caring.

God's law is an ever-present light that dispels the darkness of fear and disease. Divine law is always available, always in operation. We need only turn to it and claim its efficacy by recognizing our unity with God as His spiritual image, made in His likeness. We read in Proverbs, ''For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light.'' n1 This passage indicates the importance of understanding God's law. In the Bible His law and its healing application are revealed in the lives and teachings of the Israelite prophets and, most significantly, of Christ Jesus and his early followers.

n1 Proverbs 6:23.

The first commandment, ''Thou shalt have no other gods before me,'' n2 points to the basic spiritual truth of one God, of His allness and goodness. This truth is law, and obedience to it shows the illusiveness and powerlessness of evil, of discord and disease. Each commandment in its spiritual significance has a healing impact as well as being a foundational moral guide, anchored in divine law.

n2 Exodus 20:3.

It wasn't until recently that I began to appreciate the healing law contained in the Ten Commandments. I started to see beyond the traditional stern sense of these commands to the spiritual reality underlying them.

Late one evening my young daughter complained of irritation, and we found her body was covered with a rash. There was a moment of panic, but this was quickly replaced by an awareness of God; and the certainty of His ever-presence brought calmness and confidence. I was surprised that while I was thinking quietly about God's law controlling and governing, the child asked that we read together the Ten Commandments.

We found helpful a pamphlet on the Commandments put out by The Christian Science Publishing Society especially for children. We read through the pamphlet , discovering and discussing that we need accept and experience only what is good, what comes from God. It became clear to us that in truth each one of us is the child of God and therefore good and perfect. By obeying the Commandments we can progressively demonstrate this perfection.

We became so interested in discovering how to obey God's law, and in finding out more about His perfect, spiritual creation, that the rash was forgotten and no mention made of any irritation. My daughter settled back to sleep, and in the morning her body was clear. I realized the healing had occurred when the sense of fear, uncertainty, and irritation had been replaced by a perception of the clear, unassailable facts of spiritual law; by a realization of the present perfection of God and man; and by our willingness to accept and obey divine law.

That healing taught me a great deal about the immediacy and clarity of God's law. His law can be demonstrated at any time, anywhere. It is not subject to material restrictions or limitations. It's like a light shining all the time; our job is to open our thought to this light. Then we experience the indescribable feeling of Immanuel, or ''God with us.''

Describing her discovery of the divine laws and Principle of healing, which she names Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy writes, ''This apodictical Principle points to the revelation of Immanuel, 'God with us,' - the sovereign ever-presence, delivering the children of men from every ill 'that flesh is heir to.' '' n3

n3 Science and Health with the Key to the Scriptures, p. 107.

The fact of God's allness and ever-presence means we are never really alone in any situation. It is our joy and privilege to demonstrate His law and prove that God ism with us. DAILY BIBLE VERSE I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight. Psalms 119:174