We make decisions about all kinds of things every day. And there are times we might choose directions that we later see were based on a limited view of life as material and mortal as opposed to the unlimited view we gain from a spiritual standpoint.

For instance, I was considering taking steps in new directions in my life but was deterred by thoughts dealing with age and the corresponding suitability of these steps. I was asking myself questions such as, “Am I of an appropriate age to take on these responsibilities?” and “Is my age going to limit my ability to be successful in this endeavor?” This kind of thinking was certainly having an impact on my decision-making.

TV, the internet, radio, books, newspapers, magazines, friends, strangers—the list goes on—can all play a role in influencing our perceptions and viewpoints. And they often present a picture that conveys limits associated with aging as natural and normal—to be expected. What they often portray is the belief that age, which corresponds to the belief in the passage of time, dictates our ability, or lack thereof, to live our life to the full.

Jesus saw his true being as eternal and beyond any barriers of age. 

The Bible shows that Jesus had complete command over the beliefs of age and the passage of time. Not only did he not wait till he reached a certain age to express qualities one might identify as “mature,” such as understanding God and being eager to learn more of Him (see Luke 2:40–47), but he expected us—at any age—to be as humble as little children (see Matthew 18:1–5). In fact, he expected us to overcome all limiting beliefs, including those associated with age. He didn’t limit good qualities believed to be related to various life stages to those age groups but saw them all as inherently part of each of us as God’s spiritual offspring.

Above all, Jesus spoke of his own being as eternal—beyond any barriers of age. At one time he was speaking with a group of people who said to him, “Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?” He replied, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:57, 58). Knowing that he was the Son of God, Jesus understood himself as existing beyond any time-related perceptions.

So, back to how I confronted those limiting questions I was asking myself. Without really thinking much about it (although I should have), I had accepted the false, limiting beliefs related to aging. I had pretty much decided not to take any steps in the directions I was considering, letting them fall by the wayside.

Then one day, I was doing some study in the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s writings and came across this statement in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “The embellishments of the person are poor substitutes for the charms of being, shining resplendent and eternal over age and decay. . . . 

“Immortal Mind feeds the body with supernal freshness and fairness, supplying it with beautiful images of thought and destroying the woes of sense which each day brings to a nearer tomb” (pp. 247–248).

I could see that I needed to take a more unlimited view of myself: What appeared to be a mortal, material identity subject to aging or to a material history was not my true identity in God, the one immortal Mind. I am Mind’s complete idea, reflecting only the unlimited “charms of being” and the qualities of thought that make up divine beauty, such as hope, love, generosity, patience, joy, peace, purity, wisdom, and holiness. 

And that’s when questions that were in stark contrast to the previous ones came along: “How could the ‘woes of sense’—perceived limits based on age—have any bearing on ‘the charms of being, shining resplendent and eternal,’ such as the spiritual qualities just mentioned?” They couldn’t. “So what reasons do I have for not going forward and making the commitments I was considering?” The answer came back: “None!” Therefore, I felt divinely led with great freedom to go forward in new directions, not influenced by limits related to beliefs regarding age but impelled by the truth that I can possess and express only eternal, Godlike qualities—my true, God-given identity. I was ready to take on obligations that I knew I could fulfill without fear because no beliefs of age could limit my capacity to do so. 

But that’s not all. God’s inspiration kept coming. As I was praying to know even more about my ageless identity, these words from the Bible came to thought: “Thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning” (Job 11:17). 

I considered the context of this verse. It appears at a point where Job has been dealing with various calamities and infirmities thought to have been brought upon him by God. His friend Zophar was trying to give Job hope that God would give him new blessings, and Job knew he needed to continue resisting discouragement and prove his God-given dominion, which would naturally include the ability to overcome difficult circumstances.

I knew that Zophar’s words could further strengthen my conviction. My true, spiritual identity could become clearer to me—more unobstructed, undistorted, and undimmed, if you will, than a day at full sunlight without fog or even a single cloud. In fact, the identity of each of God’s offspring is always at “its eternal noon, undimmed by a declining sun” (Science and Health, p. 246). Our immortal identity in God never changes but is always at the point of perfection, so not conditioned by any factors of time.

And the promise “Thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning,” gave me even more certainty. It indicates that nothing can ever change the fact that man (the true identity of you, me, and all humanity) naturally shines forth—expresses and reflects God and His light in glorious ways through divinely guided thoughts, decisions, words, and actions.

Ultimately, we all can express the dominion of our ageless, timeless identity in God.

What’s more, all we truly have is now, manifesting the radiance of God’s ever-present, un-
limited goodness. Therefore, man is the natural expression of strength, energy, liveliness, prosperity, efficacy, motivation, acuity, movement, and well-being—all manifestations of God’s laws of progress, harmony, health, and healing, which are eternally in operation.

Ultimately, we all can express the dominion of our ageless, timeless identity in God. We can expect this dominion to be evidenced as we prayerfully rebuke and refute the human mind’s belief that we are subject to limitations. We can vehemently affirm in prayer that we are maintained by God as changelessly complete, spiritual, harmonious, and good, and thereby express all the “vigor, freshness, and promise” (Science and Health, p. 246) needed to meet any demand that comes our way. 

Yes, we can go forward into each day with the assurance and authority of our ageless identity in God.