Article July 28, 1945 Issue

The Nowness of "I AM THAT I AM"

ELSA CHRISTEN MESSLER

"Beloved , now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." In this passage John, the beloved disciple, not only states man's divine sonship, but emphasizes the newness of that sonship. This eternality or ever-nowness of being renders null and void any reason for fearing the past or being apprehensive of the future. Man has ever dwelt in the perfect now of God's presence, in His omnipotence, in His omniscience.

When Moses was commissioned to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, he felt the need of a definite name for God which would be comprehensible to the state of their thought. God supplied this need when he declared (Ex. 3: 14): "I AM THAT I AM....Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." This name may have enabled the Israelites to catch a glimpse of the scientific fact that their discordant experiences were not the product of the great "I AM" who "spake, and it was done," who "commanded, and it stood fast" (Ps. 33:9).

The "I AM" is God, infinite Truth, Mind, Love, the substance of all. "I AM" gives understanding, immortality, bliss, eternal life. Thus "I AM" includes all and gives us dominion over all our yesterdays, past months, past years, and even past centuries. "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past" (Eccl. 3:15).

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