THE generally accepted idea of pre-existence is that it is an existence prior to a stated time. But in reality, pre-existence has nothing to do with time or, indeed, with mortality. It is eternal coexistence with God. Time, according to the teachings of Christian Science, exists only as a fictitious measurement of what is unreal and non-existent, the interval between one mortal incident and another.
As long as mortals believe they exist in a material body, believe in a mortal birth, a mortal development, and a mortal death, and that there is a material universe, they will believe that they can be governed by time. Christian Science, however, makes a definite distinction between what is termed a mortal and the real man, the man of God's creation, the man made in the image and likeness of God. And it teaches that we must demonstrate that we are immortals and not mortals living in a time world. We must understand spiritually that man is the expression of spiritual perfection, the forever reflection of God, living in His light throughout eternity.
Either before or after what is termed death we must discard all false theories of material, physical existence, including time, and know what we truly are. Then we can appreciate this truth expressed by Mrs. Eddy in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 47): "Science reverses the evidence of material sense with the spiritual sense that God, Spirit, is the only substance; and that man, His image and likeness, is spiritual, not material. This great Truth does not destroy but substantiates man's identity,—together with his immortality and preexistence, or his spiritual coexistence with his Maker."
