"Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Paul's words bring a cheering and significant message in these days, when the carnal mind claims power to devastate in a cruel war. This glorious assurance of salvation as a present possibility encourages each one to do his part in spreading the gospel of good tidings, not merely in words, but in spiritual thinking, which blesses and helps universally.

It is because men have not understood salvation as a present spiritual experience that they have become darkened and disappointed when the cherished beliefs and hidden snares of materiality are being shaken to their very foundations. Salvation comes to consciousness as a divine awakening to the facts of being, not as a personal dispensation. It is the false belief that God allows good and evil to mingle in human experience which makes the accepted time of salvation seem afar off.

When speaking of John's vision, Mary Baker Eddy in her textbook. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," says (p. 573): "The Revelator was on our plane of existence, while yet beholding what the eye cannot see,—that which is invisible to the uninspired thought. This testimony of Holy Writ sustains the fact in Science, that the heavens and earth to one human consciousness, that consciousness which God bestows, are spiritual, while to another, the unillumined human mind, the vision is material." Salvation must therefore be the revelation of the truth that real existence is wholly spiritual, because God made all that was made, and forever maintains His creation. Christ Jesus said, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

The seething difficulties and struggles of the human mind originate in a false sense of life as good and evil, material and spiritual. The occasional gleams of spirituality are expected to be fully substantiated only in a future heaven. Our gratitude to Christ Jesus can be truly manifested only as we understand his great sacrifice for the salvation of the world from sin and death, and let his example inspire us each day to go and do likewise. Nothing unlike God is true. Jesus healed sickness, sin, and death through his understanding of man as the son of God, His image and likeness. He never feared evil, because he knew that God, good, alone is power.

As we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, by cultivating the spiritual qualities which Jesus manifested, we shall no longer look for a false peace and plenty as a goal. By letting spiritual ideas replace the aggressive suggestions of fear and evil, we shall gain a wonderful sense of freedom.

The teaching of Christian Science has made possible the realization of present salvation. The understanding of God as All, as infinite intelligence, divine Love, brings the assurance that the answer to the prayer of affirmation already exists in divine Mind, and needs only to be sought there. We have the Scriptural promise, "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Mrs. Eddy tells us that "desire is prayer" (Science and Health, p. 1). Let us see to it that our desire is to gain the glory of God free from self—aggrandizement. Then the answer will be realized, not according to human will, but in accordance with God's purpose.

It is certain that the joyous practice of Christian Science brings instantaneous healing to the suffering heart. Yet in many instances this work done during a longer period before freedom is gained has brought change of character, in the purification of sense and self, a greater sense of dominion and spiritual strength. There is apt to be some sense of discouragement in what is called "a slow healing," but the healing may be going on all the time, in spite of the ups and downs presented by mortal mind. Referring to this fact, someone has said, "Does not much that is beautiful in nature unfold in just this way, so gently, so gradually, whatever the outer world may be presenting, until the full beauty of the fruit and flower blossoms forth?"

The opinion is sometimes voiced that the present world conflagration must continue until men are more spiritually ready to enjoy a merited peace. But Christian Science has revealed to us divine Principle, to be used and demonstrated individually, and surely each difficulty as it comes to us must have its solution—its healing and relief. This does not mean that peace in its fullness is gained in one overcoming of error, but each day brings its unfoldment of Truth, and strain and stress disappear proportionately as thought holds faithfully to the power of omnipotent Love to destroy atrocity and hate. The victory over evil must come as a spiritually mental experience, wherein men will awaken to their God—given ability to break the subtle mesmerism of hidden evil, which has now come to the surface to be destroyed.

Those who are awake to the signs of these times are glad that this overturning and stir in the material world, foretold by Christ Jesus, is at hand, and we can heed his words, speaking to us now as surely as when he uttered them to his disciples of yore, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

Every moment of true thinking is a moment of redemption, and we need not wait for a future time for the power of Christ, Truth, to be made manifest, and to bring us into the kingdom of God. In the consummation of work well done will come the deliverance from belief in evil, and the glad message for one and all is, "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."