We are made of God stuff
Glimpsing more of our God-given spiritual nature brings us joy, inspiration, and healing.
Recently released images from NASA’s Webb telescope have sparked joy and awe of the universe, now seen in new ways. I too feel wonder as I consider the vastness of the galaxies and the stars around us. I am also inspired by the fact that thought can reach out and understand any part of the universe, even if in a very small degree.
While we certainly experience beauty and joy as we look up into the night sky, I’ve found that another perspective of the universe, a spiritual perspective, offers even greater joy. Christian Science unlocks the spiritual reality of the universe, in which we discover the life, intelligence, and substance that are of God, divine Mind.
From this basis, we understand we aren’t made of material elements such as atoms. Man, a term that includes all men and women, is made by God in His image, as His expression. The textbook of Christian Science, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, states, “Everything in God’s universe expresses Him” (p. 331). God being Spirit, His creation is therefore entirely spiritual. As Science and Health explains a few pages later: “Spirit, God, has created all in and of Himself” (p. 335).
Wow. Our identity as the reflection of infinite Mind not only empowers us to understand creation as the emanation of divine Spirit, it also represents the very substance of creation. We are created “in and of” God. We are made of God stuff! We are spiritual ideas of divine Mind and Spirit, the ideas that live in God.
What is “God stuff”? Mrs. Eddy writes of Bible-based synonyms for God: Life, Truth, Love, Spirit, Soul, Mind, and Principle. This is what we are made of. We don’t just have an ability to love; we are made of Love. We don’t just express intelligence; we are made of intelligence or Mind. This is true for all of creation.
There are moments in our lives of great joy and healing, when our thought rises above the material picture to glimpse, and even feel, that God, Spirit, is All and we are included in His universe. Once when I was ill and felt overwhelmed with work, I sat down and said, “Dear God, please help me,” opening my heart to divine Spirit. In a few minutes I felt the presence of God, Love, that fills all space.
This brought healing. I got up completely free from illness, and soon I found more balance and even enjoyment in my work (see “A full salvation through grace expressed in works,” Christian Science Sentinel, Nov. 17, 1986).
If all that is spiritual, good, and true is the creation of God – and it is – then everything expresses the joy of God. The author of the Bible’s book of Job caught something of this idea when he wrote of a time “when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (38:7). We and the stars, God stuff all, sing together and express joy.