No one wants to be deceived in any way, to be hoodwinked by falsity. Before accepting a fact, we often inquire, Is it true? But when we have dreams at night, we do not know that they are unreal or untrue until we awake.

One night the writer dreamed that she had taken some friends for a drive into the country, and while they were away from the car, the car disappeared. They were in an isolated spot with no means of communication; so she was disturbed and fearful about getting her friends home safely. She appeared to be in a helpless situation. In her distress she awoke and to her great relief found that she was safe at home. The first thing she said was, "I am so thankful it wasn't true!"

Since it was morning, she started to get up but found that she was so dizzy she could not stand. Through the study of Christian Science, she had been learning to differentiate between the real and unreal, and she declared, "This is not true of man, and I can be thankful that it is no more real than the distressing dream I have just had."

She knew that the image and likeness of God cannot be ill and suffer; that man is always in a safe place in Mind, at home in divine Love. He is never isolated from God or in a helpless situation. She refused to be deceived by this daytime illusion. Presently her thinking became clear, and she felt normal and well again.

Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 36, 37): "Mortal mind is an illusion; as much in our waking moments as in the dreams of sleep. The belief that intelligence, Truth, and Love, are in matter and separate from God, is an error; for there is no intelligent evil, and no power besides God, good."

How comforting it is to be assured that man, the offspring, the reflection, of God cannot be isolated, separate from Him, living apart from Spirit in an orbit of his own! Man, God's reflection, lives because God lives; his thought is clear because God is the only Mind. He is always safe in God's protection, in Spirit.

While Christ Jesus lived on earth among men, he worked for their liberation from the material illusions which bound them to earth by raising their thoughts and lives heavenward. In "Unity of Good," Mrs. Eddy says (pp. 59, 60): "Jesus came to rescue men from these very illusions to which he seemed to conform; from the illusion which calls sin real, and man a sinner, needing a Saviour; the illusion which calls sickness real, and man an invalid, needing a physician; the illusion that death is as real as Life. From such thoughts—mortal inventions, one and all Christ Jesus came to save men, through ever-present and eternal good."

The Bible tells us that God made everything and that He "saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good" (Gen. 1:31). So the physical senses are deceiving us daily when they report that evil or matter is real.

Christian Scientists today, through the study of the Bible and Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, are waking to the truth that man is wholly spiritual and that God, Spirit, made all and made it good. Because matter was never created, there is no matter to suffer, be sinful, or be diseased. The understanding of these truths has brought healing to thousands, who refuse to be put to sleep or stay asleep with illusions.

Mind is the creator, and matter, never having been created, has no power, intelligence, life, or existence. Therefore, it has no ability to deceive. Mortal mind is the deceiver.

In the dream mentioned at the beginning of this article the car was not lost, nor was the party stranded; it was an illusion of sleep and therefore had not happened. God's creation is at all times awake, intelligent, healthful, fearless, safe. If we fear anything, we can be sure that God never made it; and since there is no other creator, the thing we fear must be an illusion.

It is his concept of the universe or of himself as material that deceives one. Should he allow the beliefs of the flesh to dictate to him? That they have life or intelligence is an illusion, a deception. The reflection of God is not bound by flesh. In this scientific age one wants to know the truth and especially the truth of man's being. Why not accept the true spiritual facts and be abreast of the times? It is much wiser, safer, and more health-giving to be awake and undeceived.

In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy tells us (p. 347): "The dream that matter and error are something must yield to reason and revelation. Then mortals will behold the nothingness of sickness and sin, and sin and sickness will disappear from consciousness."

The word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. ...The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.—Psalm 33:4, 5, 11.