Now Is the Time

GEORGE DIXON

In an Eastern city centuries ago two men met. One related that he had a servant at home who was ill with paralysis and in great pain. The other said he would go and cure him. But the first replied that he believed the other could cure the servant without waiting to go to him; and on displaying such faith, he was told that his servant was already healed. The story is well known. The one appealed to was Jesus; the other, the centurion; and the healing was instantaneous. The reason Jesus could heal instantly was because of his recognition of the presence of the healing Christ; and, accordingly, we are actually commanded by him to have that same Mind which was reflected in Christ Jesus. This recognition of the Christ also gives us the power to heal, proportionably to our understanding. To begin to obey is not a problem of time.

In the Bible, and in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, there is nothing to indicate the necessity of waiting a certain time before dispelling the belief of disease. In destroying inharmonious conditions through Christian Science, it is exceedingly helpful constantly to recall the procedure of our Way-shower. We cannot think of Jesus saying that a particular disease must "run its course." He knew that the only course open to error is to destroy itself. "If the Scientist reaches his patient through divine Love," writes Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 365), "the healing work will be accomplished at one visit, and the disease will vanish into its native nothingness like dew before the morning sunshine." But animal magnetism, so called, would try to persuade every Christian Science practitioner that quick healing is not to be expected. We should banish this suggestion of evil at once.

The story is told of a man crossing the ocean, who, after being on the ship for several days, was asked by a fellow-passenger why he ate his meals from a lunch basket, instead of going to the dining saloon. His reply was that he could not afford to eat with the other passengers, since it had taken all of his money to purchase the passage ticket. He was then assured that he did not have to pay for his meals, as they were included in the price of the ticket. Throughout the trip he had been living on the most meager fare, when right beside him was the cabin table spread with choice delicacies from the markets of the world; and from the beginning of the voyage a place had been reserved for him at the table. As soon as he saw his mistake he was freed from the thought of limitation, just as he would have been from the beginning, had he but known the truth of the situation.

This illustrates the way many people are missing the ever present feast that Love has spread. The heavenly gifts of health, peace, and abundance are always where we are, literally surrounding us, ready for us to enjoy; whatever the seeming distress or discomfiture may be, all we have to do is to awake from our ignorance, now. All good is present wherever we are, at all times; and there is no better time than the present in which to witness a demonstration of this fact. To the sincere, unprejudiced seeker after health and harmony, Christian Science treatment contains no complication or intricacy. Man, made in the likeness of God, is and always has been perfect; but we are continually assailed by the lying tongue of error, which says that man is subject to many different ills. If we reverse these lies as fast as they are presented to us, and promptly affirm their opposite, then and there the perfection of man as the child of God will unfold, expeditiously and in the most orderly sequence. This demands the humility of letting go of self to rest in Love, abiding in the deep, calm conviction of infinite power, where God and the child of His creating forever dwell.

Christian Science teaches that the ills of mankind are largely the result of latent fear. That which is unreal induces fear because it is not created by God. Fear is destroyed by denying it reality or power; and this can be done without hesitation, if our motive be true and right. Gratitude is one of the quickest of all healers; but, instead of counting our own blessings, sometimes we are tempted enviously to look upon the good things the other person seems to possess. Standing amid the crowd of scoffing unbelievers before the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus took the wise preliminary course of offering up gratitude, saying, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me," before attempting to raise Lazarus from the sleep called death. The Bible sounds to us the clarion call, "Awake thou that sleepest." Now is the time for that awakening to the realization of man's perfection. Mrs. Eddy says in her Message for 1900 (p. 15), "To-day you have come to a sumptuous feast, to one that for many years has been awaiting you."

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"Citizens of the world"

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