Time is shown by Christian Science to be but the limiting belief in which all that is known by the name of human appears to occur. According to belief, time claims to begin for each one at material birth; and, according to belief also, it may or may not continue after what is termed death. Sometimes it is looked upon by the so-called human mind as a finite measurement, as a period more or less prolonged, having a beginning and an ending in that which has neither a beginning nor an ending, but which to it is purely hypothetical— eternity. To measure time, the so-called human mind always resorts to matter. Thus, its second is the time taken for a pendulum of a definite length to make a complete vibration; its year, the time the earth takes to journey once over its elliptical orbit round the sun. Whatever the unit of time, to obtain it matter has always to be resorted to in some form or other.
Now, Christian Science declares that matter is unreal. It teaches that God, Spirit, is infinite; and that, therefore, what the so-called material senses look upon as material substance is nothing but a false concept of reality. It follows from this that time, being dependent on that which is unreal, namely matter, cannot itself be a reality. Hence, time is like the so-called mind in which it seems to originate,—a myth, an illusion, or simply an error of belief. Mrs. Eddy's definition of "time" in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 595) cannot be surpassed. It is: "Mortal measurements; limits, in which are summed up all human acts, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, knowledge; matter; error; that which begins before, and continues after, what is termed death, until the mortal disappears and spiritual perfection appears." Thus it is unequivocally stated that time is simply limits, matter, error.
It is one of the most glorious features of Christian Science that because it has shed such an intense light on the eternal, time is clearly seen to be the illusion of mortal mind that it is. This is largely due to the understanding which Christian Science gives of the eternal nature of Life. God is Life; and God is infinite; therefore Life is eternal, without beginning or end. And God's creation, which is the entire manifestation of God, or Life, must be as eternal as its creator. Here we have one of the most far-reaching propositions ever brought to the comprehension of mankind. Just think what it implies regarding man! Man, the real spiritual man, God's creation, never had a beginning; never was born. That, surely, is what Christ Jesus meant when he said, "Before Abraham was, I am."
