A Course in Miracles Text Made Simple

To gain the most from A Course in Miracles Text Made Simple, we recommend that
you read the corresponding chapter and section in the Text of the Second or
Third Edition of A Course in Miracles published by the Foundation for Inner Peace.

Tell a Friend about this article or send the link with a Tweet

Printable Page

Click link to go to:
Previous Section • Next Section • Chapter Index

Chapter 26: The Transition

Section VIII. The Immediacy of Salvation

Read A Course in Miracles, Chapter 26, Section VIII. (pages 558-560)

What makes trust impossible?

In this section we learn that the illusions of time and space are ploys in the ego thought system to make it appear that separation has been accomplished and is happening now. In earlier chapters it is emphasized that projection makes perception. The guilt we feel that goes along with choosing to see separation from Love’s oneness gets projected onto a screen we now see as a world that is outside of our thoughts. This ego trick of projection makes it look like what are really our thoughts are ‘out there’ and that we have nothing to do with what we are seeing. The purpose of projection (what we see through the body’s eyes) is to make it look like we are the face of innocence and the guilt we are holding onto in our mind lies in ‘others,’ who we now see as outside us. This projection of guilt makes trusting the true Reality of our brothers impossible.

Jesus points out here that we use the ego’s false mental constructs of time and space to reinforce the story that it takes time before we receive the benefits of our ‘forgiveness.’ He tells us, “The one remaining problem that you have is that you see an interval between the time when you forgive, and will receive the benefits of trusting in your brother. This but reflects the little you would keep between you and your brother, that you and he might be a little separate.” (1:1-2)

True forgiveness brings the experience of seeing past our projections of guilt to the true Reality of our brother, which is in the eternal present. The truth is that every brother is eternal Love NOW and forever. True forgiveness brings us to know that nothing has really happened to change God’s one Son. The ego’s false forgiveness makes it look like it is dangerous to forgive because our brother is still guilty. Here trust is impossible.

How does our belief in time and space support our belief in separation?

If we let go of our belief in time and space, we could no longer hold onto the idea that we are separate and alone. Time and space are the opposite of eternity, where all is One in the eternal, changeless present. There is no space and time in God, where we are all joined as one now.

Here Jesus informs us that we are afraid of salvation because that would remove the false image of space that we ‘now’ see between ourselves and ‘everyone else.’ He tells us, “If you would keep a little space between you and your brother still, you then would want a little time in which forgiveness is withheld a little while.” (3:8)

Here we see that we use the illusion of time to hold off realizing that we are joined as one now. If we accepted that we are one now and for eternity, there is no need for the belief in a future and a past. We would laugh at this crazy concept instead of taking the idea of time seriously. Jesus tells us, “Belief in sin [separation] arouses fear, and like its cause, is looking forward, looking back, but overlooking what is here and now.” (5:5)

Why is a miracle now?

Let us remember that a miracle is opening to and receiving the truth. It is receiving a correction in our perception. We are reminded that the miracle is always there in our minds, waiting for our willingness to receive it. That is why Jesus tells us, “For a miracle is now. It stands already here, in present grace, within the only interval of time that sin and fear have overlooked, but which is all there is to time.” (5:8-9) As we are willing to receive the truth that everyone is already joined as one in the one Mind of Love, we will see a new purpose for every relationship — to see the present truth of our oneness in Love.

Why does Jesus say that future happiness has no meaning?

In lesson 103 Jesus tells us that “God, being Love, is also happiness. Happiness is an attribute of Love. [Happiness] cannot be apart from [Love]. Nor can [happiness] be experienced where Love is not. Love has no limits, being everywhere. And therefore joy is everywhere as well.” (W-pI.103.1-3)

If God is happiness and God is eternal and we are one with God right now, happiness could not be in the future. This is why Jesus tells us in paragraph 9: “Be not content with future happiness. It has no meaning, and is not your just reward. For you have cause for freedom now. …Look not to time, but to the little space between you still [separation], to be delivered from. And do not let it be disguised as time, and so preserved because its form is changed and what it is cannot be recognized. The Holy Spirit’s purpose now is yours. Should not His happiness be yours as well?” (9:1-3, 7-10 italics added)

© 2004-2010, Pathways of Light. https://www.pathwaysoflight.org
You may freely share copies of this with your friends, provided this copyright notice and website address are included.

Tell a Friend about this article.

Printable Page

Click link to go to:
Previous Section • Next Section • Chapter Index

Has this page been helpful to you?
Your contribution to support this site is greatly appreciated. To make a tax deductible contribution with a credit/debit card, click here.
Click here to donate from your PayPal account.
Or send a check to Pathways of Light, 12530 Lions Chase Court, Huntley, IL 60142.

This section has been viewed 2258139 times