Much of human life, its order and regulations, seems to be based on time. We read in Ecclesiastes (3:1,4), "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:...a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." But as Christian Scientists we must watch that we are not taken in by this false sense of time. Wisdom demands that we make time our servant, not our master.
Mary Baker Eddy tells us, in a definition in the Glossary of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," just what time is (p. 595): "Time. 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 she strips time of its mastery, and shows us that the more we acknowledge perfection or reality, the less we acknowledge time.
The earnest study and application of Christian Science bring release, in great measure, from the exacting demands of time in our daily lives. The beliefs of infancy and age, of so-called laws of health, of lack of time to do our work, can be proved false. From our Leader's definition we see that the belief of time is a belief of limitation, and that the fear accompanying this false belief disappears as we apprehend the perfection of God's spiritual creation. Then let us become aware of the perfection of good in all things, and time will cease to limit us.
Many believe that so-called contagious diseases manifest themselves in a specified number of days or weeks after one is exposed to them. They also believe that the disease must run a course of so many days or months and that it is fatal if it persists for too long a time. These godless beliefs, however, are not laws; and through the intelligence which God bestows, they can be proved untrue and powerless. Any seeming result from exposure to disease is due to a mental state, such as fear or ignorance. One cannot in reality catch anything but good, for God is good, and God is All. Many students of Christian Science have proved that even if disease seems to be developing, it can be quickly routed by the understanding that God sends good alone and that there is no other power.
Beliefs attached to infancy can be lifted from a babe by the realization that he is in reality a mature idea and coexists with God, expressing intelligence and love. This brings out early in the child's life the divine characteristics which man expresses. Age also is an ugly belief that must be overcome. What grows old? Not man in God's image and likeness, for man forever reflects God, and God is the same yesterday and today and forever. Even natural scientists now claim that the matter of which the human body is said to be composed is renewed every few months. Age is but one of the accompaniments of the carnal belief that man is born into matter, lives in it, and dies out of it. But man is coexistent with God, created by Him alone. Man is completely spiritual, hence ageless.
On page 584 of Science and Health our Leader defines "day" in part as, "The irradiance of Life;" and she continues, "The objects of time and sense disappear in the illumination of spiritual understanding, and Mind measures time according to the good that is unfolded." This is truly the only way to count time, and each day those who are receptive to Truth can see more of the splendor of the spiritual light which man reflects. To those who see and walk in this light, demonstrating the truth of perfect God, perfect man, and perfect universe according to their highest understanding, the beliefs of time, birth, and death become unreal.
Man is neither old nor young. Man is always at the springtide of freshness and the joy of new experiences. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" our Leader says (p. 158), "We live in an age of Love's divine adventure to be All-in-all." Let us cast off as a worn-out cloak the false mental picture of age, and let us put on the beautiful garments of Spirit, feeling the newness of Life and the energy of Truth, which belong forever to man—the ageless idea of Spirit.
A woman who was the director of a local theater group which was putting on a play in a certain city went to a Christian Science practitioner for help. She told the practitioner that everything seemed to be going wrong. She thought that basically this error might come from the jealousy of another theater group in the city. She said that none of the cast of the play were co-operating, rehearsals were not being attended, and that the father of the leading lady was so critically ill that she feared the young woman might not be able to be on hand on the night the play was to be given. The director kept saying to the practitioner, "And I have just three days in which to get everything ready."
The woman was assured that God does not require time in which to express harmony, for in God's universe there is no discord. The practitioner told her that envy, hate, and jealousy have no power, since God has all power, and He is Love. Therefore hate and evil are just the opposite of power, hence powerless. She quoted this verse from the Bible (II Pet. 3:8): "One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."
As the practitioner talked, the woman began to smile. Soon she jumped up and, preparing to leave, laughingly said as she went out the door: "I have what I need now. I have three thousand years in which to get this play ready!" And she went joyously on her way. In a day or so she reported that by the next day after her visit to the practitioner the father of the leading lady was well on the way to recovery, and that the cast were all attending rehearsals and co-operating beautifully. The play was given at the time scheduled and was a great success.
We do not need more time, but more understanding, more love, more wisdom, more letting go of the human outlining and letting God's plan come to light, more obedience to God's will. Putting God first always eliminates fear of not having enough time. If time is error, why should we want more of it? Putting God first is putting our study of Christian Science above all other duties and activities. We should do this, and we should think constructively in accord with divine Mind. Then there will be time to do all other necessary things.
In Ecclesiastes we read (3:15), "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past." I used to think that this verse was harsh and that it meant that God required us to give an account of the past, especially of seemingly wasted years. Of course repentance and reform are required for past errors, but God does not know evil. I have come to see in the study of the beautiful truth—Christian Science— that "God requireth that which is past" because actually nothing ever happened but good in God's kingdom, where we really dwell. This has brought great comfort.
By my applying the whole passage to a friend's need, a disease which had defied the doctors was quickly healed. That "which hath been" is in reality good alone, and "that which is to be" has already and always been good alone. And this good exists now, filling all space, leaving no place for sickness or evil. We read in Revelation (10:6) that after the little book was opened, the angel prophesied that time should be no longer.
As we are alert to deny power or time or place to error, and to accept only good as filling all space and having all power, the fact of the eternity of good dawns on us and becomes more and more our natural experience. Let us fill our days with good. Let us reflect Love and know that Love is reflected by all. Love must be acknowledged as the only God. Love, infinite Principle, infinite Love, remains unchanged despite human beliefs of time and human pleadings for good, and man reflects, or expresses, this immortal Principle, Love, here and now and forever.
