Article June 29, 1935 Issue

Time

CHARLES A. GRIFFITH

Almost every student of Christian Science, when endeavoring to solve some problem of healing, has said or thought, I am sure I shall be better tomorrow. Is such a mental attitude conducive to a successful and instantaneous demonstration? Or, is it more likely to prove a hindrance rather than a help? Should we not consider the fact that God, the great I AM, is changeless; that man in God's likeness is therefore also changeless, and will never be any better, any more Godlike, than he is now?

On page 259 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy makes this important declaration: "The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration." If demonstration is to be made on the basis of "perfect God and perfect man," must we not see our true self as perfect now, rather than merely expect to be better tomorrow? Better is a relative term, denoting a degree of perfection. The Master's admonition was, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." The command is, "Be perfect," not merely look forward to some future time for the appearing of perfection.

Why is it that mortals fail to realize that perfect state of being is the present fact? Is it not because the factor of time enters so generally into all their calculations? It is believed that every accomplishment must of necessity have beginning and end—time—for its fulfillment. The master Christian refused to recognize any such limiting thought; and our Leader declares (ibid., p. 468): "Life is without beginning and without end. Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of Life, and time is no part of eternity." As God is eternal good, and time is no part of the eternity must be real and time unreal, a human concept, unknown to the divine Mind. Then shall we not rid our thought of the notion that time is a factor in the destruction of error, and declare with the beloved disciple, "Now are we the sons of God"? Now, not tomorrow, is man the perfect image and likeness of his Father-Mother God, free from all sin, disease, or aught that would tend to separate him from the heaven of His presence.

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