Article August 1, 1936 Issue

Eternity versus Time

RUTH STOCKTON

Does the word "eternity" mean to us a vast accumulation of years, or do we understand it to be timeless infinitude? Eternity versus time is equivalent to Truth versus error, for one is antagonistic to the other. The sense of time disappears in the proportion that eternity is realized. Time is nothingness—error. Eternity expresses the allness and the nowness of good.

When we are working out our problems, we know that in eternity there is no lapse of a certain number of days, months, or years in which to realize perfection. We know and understand that in Mind, the one and only Mind, man exists at the standpoint of reflection, manifestation, demonstration, full fruition. We learn from experience that so long as we look for the solution of our problems in the future, which is a phase of time, we do not see present unfoldment. Jesus said at the tomb of Lazarus, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me." He did not say, "Thou wilt hear me." May we not always say, "Father, I thank Thee that my needs are already met"?

Perhaps we are thinking that it will take a long time to work out our problems. Are we perplexed by the seeming lapse of time between the declaration of the truth and the demonstration we are looking for? Are we inclined to be impatient because the unfoldment of an idea does not come to us more quickly? Such thinking reveals our need of recognizing such periods of waiting as opportunities to trust God more devoutly, to learn needed lessons in patience, meekness, and obedience, to subjugate the human will to the divine will, and to pray more earnestly for divine direction and protection. Improvement of these opportunities does not depend on the passing of time, but may be considered as "the human footsteps leading to perfection" which our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, tells us "are indispensable" (Science and Health, p. 254). She also tells us (ibid., p. 584) that "Mind measures time according to the good that is unfolded." This measurement of time is never accompanied by doubt, fear, impatience, or distrust; for, obviously, these qualities do not emanate from God, good.

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