Article July 31, 1920 Issue

Working Out Our Salvation

MILDRED E. BEANS

On page 39 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, we read, "'Now,' cried the apostle, 'is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,'—meaning, not that now men must prepare for a future-world salvation, or safety, but that now is the time in which to experience that salvation in spirit and in life." What more glorious realization can come to any of us, than that right here and now we can not only begin to work out our salvation, which is to last through all eternity, but also enjoy as we go along the benefits of our labor? The working out of this salvation means, of course, spiritual progress, and every right step taken in the path of spiritual progress is secure, for we cannot go back to a material way of thinking about anything when the spiritual fact is once understood. It would be like clinging to the statement that twice two is five after it has been proved that twice two is four. The very fact that we desire this progress is a proof that God, intelligence, is working with us, and this being true, what is there to prevent our success? Nothing can hinder the advancing unfoldment of intelligence, for it is the only real power; it renders null and void the so-called forces of evil, ignorance, and is ever waiting with loving-kindness to direct our steps. What we need, then, is to avail ourselves now of this intelligence, which is God, and to prove now man's relationship with the Father. Jesus pointed out the way, and we have but to follow his direction.

If, in order to reach the salvation which we are so desirous of obtaining, we needed to overcome and surmount difficulties the existence of which were a reality instead of being a mere dream, a false belief of life in matter, we should indeed have cause to fear; but when it is understood that the real man, who is made in the image of God, is perfect, it becomes evident that salvation is but the awakening from a dream which pictures man as God's unlikeness. This dream has no more reality or truth than have night dreams and is no more to be feared.

The sooner we begin this process of awakening, the better it will be for us, and it is not an individual problem only, because every time a claim of error is broken, it becomes just that much easier for some one else to overcome that claim. In working out our own salvation, then, we are helping along the salvation of the world. A nobler occupation we could not have, and we must rejoice every step of the way, never yielding for a moment to discouragement, for Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 254 of Science and Health, "Pilgrim on earth, thy home is heaven; stranger, thou art the guest of God."

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