Hidden evil can't stay hidden
My prayers took a fresh tack today as I dealt with the ongoing concerns about anthrax and other terrorist attacks. These words popped into thought: There is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed. It struck me that this is an important direction for prayers to take. For while it is essential to help others gain a sense of protection and safety, it's also important to know about the spiritual forces that are at work to uncover these wicked activities so that they can be stopped.
I was fairly certain that this idea came from the Bible, and I was led to these words of Jesus. He told his disciples: "... there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops" (Luke 12:2, 3).
In the context of today's events, these words help me realize that no matter how secretly such attacks are planned, no matter how carefully people might try to cover their tracks, through our prayers, all these things can be brought to light, and those who pursue such goals can be exposed. There is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed.
Evil certainly tries to hide in dark and hidden places. But these familiar words of the Bible hit me in a new way: "... darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Gen. 1:2, 3). I don't want to trivialize one of the profoundest passages in the Bible, but isn't it heartening to know that even now, at this moment, the "spirit of God" is active and still demanding light? Still eliminating darkness? Still revealing the supreme authority of good?
I am reassured to know that at this very instant, this great omnipotent power of good is at work in the world, saying, "Let there be light." Let the force and might and omnipotent activity of good be revealed. Let us see it exterminate the darkness and the activities that take place there. Let us see the operation of divine law at work. This desire is a righteous prayer and one we can all join in with all our hearts.
As I did this, I found myself acknowledging in my prayers that the officials striving to uncover these plots have divine wisdom. They are led, inspired, and directed by God, divine Mind.
I acknowledged as well that those who have information that would expose these plots are being given the fearlessness and strength to reveal what they know so that lives can be preserved. Fears or divided loyalties might make this hard for some. But divine Love helps overcome these and gives people the strength to serve good instead of evil. This is affirmed by Mary Baker Eddy in her enormously helpful book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Man's enslavement to the most relentless masters - passion, selfishness, envy, hatred, and revenge - is conquered only by a mighty struggle.... Here Christian Science is the sovereign panacea, giving strength to the weakness of mortal mind, - strength from the immortal and omnipotent Mind, - and lifting humanity above itself into purer desires, even into spiritual power and good-will to man" (pg. 407).
This led me finally to the spiritual fact that the power, authority, and demands of good that work in men and women are sufficient to overrule and arrest the impulses to murder and harm others. Mrs. Eddy states, "The superiority of spiritual power over sensuous is the central point of Christian Science" (pg. 454). This is challenging to believe sometimes. So I am continuing to pray for God's help in understanding that He does rule supreme in our hearts and minds and that divine Love does overrule hate.
This is unmistakably evident in Christ Jesus' life. It is clearly one of the great lessons his life teaches us. Current events are compelling many of us to return to our spiritual roots, and this is one of the lessons that we have the God-given ability to learn. I am convinced that the more we pray in these directions, the more we will demonstrate the fact that there is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed. This will save us from harm, and save many from doing harm.
