With the wall-to-wall coverage these past few days of Michael Jackson's passing, with accounts of his widespread use of prescription drugs, many have aired their views on society's overuse of drugs to alleviate problems. It is my feeling that far too many people have a near worship of-- not God Almighty--but of pills/medicine/drugs, and certainly rely too heavily on them. Instead of dealing with life's challenges, they just escape through over-dependence on drugs. Easier to just dope themselves up, they mistakenly think. And in Jackson's case (what a sweet, innocent, appealing child he was), the end is so sad. All of this has made me intensely grateful for being able to live my life without thinking, what if I become addicted to drugs?
What enables me to do this? It is having gained some knowledge of spiritual truths that heal. And by spiritual truths I mean the divine laws that Christ Jesus understood and healed by.
I have many friends in the Christian faith who gain inspiration and comfort from Christ Jesus. And certainly I yield to no one in my adoration of Jesus. But how often I have thought, how much better these people would be if they had a practical understanding of the healing power he demonstrated so wonderfully. Their lives would be richer, freer--definitely more healthy in many cases, if they relied on God's healing power instead of a mindless drug.
It is my understanding that the purpose of our Master's unequaled example was not merely to inspire mankind but to show us how to be free from every form of material bondage, physical suffering included. He promised, Verily, veirly, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also" (John 14:12).
This can be accomplished, however, only as one understands the spiritual laws underlying his words and deeds. One would not expect to succeed in applying the laws of mathematics simply by admiring the professor's personality or even his instruction. In like manner, the changeless Principle of Jesus' healing and teaching has to be learned.
This is explained fully and clearly in the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered and founded Christian Science. The law of Spirit, God, is available for everyone to learn and use in his daily life. When the spiritual truths are brought into contact with one' particular problem through prayer and purified living -- and it makes no difference whether the problem is physical, financial, emotional, or moral -- the result is the restoration of harmony, healing.
Mrs. Eddy writes: "The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation." Then she continues, "Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural." (Science and Health, p. xi)
Further in this book, the author points out: "If drugs are part of God's creation, which (according to the narrative in Genesis) He pronounced good, then drugs canot be poisonous. If He could create drugs intrinsically bad, then they should never be used. If He creates drugs at all and designs them for medical use, why did Jesus not employ them and recommend them for the treatment of disease?" (page 157)
I couldn't recount all the healings I've had through the years by turning to God and relying on His power alone. When challenged by illness--sometimes severe--had I merely felt admiration for Jesus' teachings, this would not have freed me from the problem. But spiritual understanding and application of the scientific, spiritual rules of his teachings have had power to bring a return to health and normalcy. And to think, I haven't had to be afraid of becoming addicted to some prescription.
As I and countless thousands of others have learned, it is possible to live one's life drug free. God be thanked that this is so.
