Part 1

Undoing the Way We See Things Now

Lesson 99

Salvation is my Only Function Here.

Salvation and forgiveness are the same. They both imply that something has gone wrong: something to be saved from, forgiven for; something amiss that needs corrective change; something apart or different from the will of God. Thus do both terms imply something impossible but yet which has occurred, resulting in a state of conflict now between what is and what could be.

2. Truth and illusions both are equal now, for both have happened. The impossible becomes the thing you need forgiveness for, salvation from. Salvation is the borderland between truth and illusions. It reflects the truth because it is the means by which you can escape illusions: Yet it is not truth because it undoes what was never done.

3. How could there be a meeting place at all where earth and Heaven can be reconciled within a mind where both of them exist? The mind which sees illusions thinks them real. They have existence in that they are thoughts. And yet they are not real because the mind that thinks these thoughts is separate from God.

4. What joins the separated mind and thoughts with Mind and thought which are forever one? What plan could hold the truth inviolate, yet recognize the need illusions bring, and offer means by which they are undone, without attack and with no touch of pain? What but a thought of God could be this plan by which the never done is overlooked, and sins forgotten which were never real?

5. The Holy Spirit holds this plan of God exactly as it was received of Him within the Mind of God and in your own. It is apart from time in that its Source is timeless. Yet it operates in time, because of your belief that time is real. Unshaken does the Holy Spirit look on what you see: on sin and pain and death, on grief and separation and on loss. Yet does He know one thing must still be true: God still is love,¹⁵⁶ and this is not His will.

6. This is the thought which brings illusions to the truth, and sees them as appearances behind which is the changeless and the sure. This is the thought which saves and forgives, because it lays no faith in what is not created by the only Source it knows. This is the thought whose function is to save by giving you its function as your own. Salvation is your function, with the One to Whom the plan was given. Now are you entrusted with this plan, along with Him. He has one answer to appearances, regardless of their form, their size, their depth, or any attribute they seem to have.

Salvation is my only function here.

God still is love, and this is not His will.

7. You who will yet work miracles, be sure you practice well the idea for today. Try to perceive the strength in what you say, for these words in which your freedom lies. Your Father loves you. All the world of pain is not His Will. Forgive yourself the thought He wanted this for you. Then let the thought with which He has replaced all your mistakes enter the darkened places of  your mind which thought the thoughts that never were His will.

8. This part belongs to God, as does the rest. It does not think its solitary thoughts and make them real by hiding them from Him. Let in the light, and you will look upon no obstacle to what He will for you. Open your secrets to His kindly light, and see how bright this light still shines in you. Practice His thought today, and let His light seek out and lighten up all darkened spots, and shine through them and join them to the rest. It is God’s will that His one Son is you.

9. Think of these things in practicing today, and start your longer practice periods with this instruction in the way of truth:

Salvation is my only function here.

Salvation and forgiveness are the same.

     Then turn to Him Who shares your function here, and let Him teach you what you need to learn to lay all fear aside and know your Self as love which has no opposites in you. Forgive all thoughts that would oppose the truth of your completeness, unity, and peace. You cannot lose the gifts your Father gave. You do not want to be another self. You have no function that is not of God. Forgive yourself the one you think you made. Forgiveness and salvation are the same. Forgive what you have made, and you are saved.

10. You have a special message for today which has the power to remove all forms of doubt and fear forever from your mind. If you are tempted to believe them true, remember that appearances cannot withstand the truth these mighty words contain:

Salvation is my only function here.

God still is love, and this is not His Will.

11. Your only function tells you; you are one. Remind yourself of this between the times you give five minutes to be shared with Him Who shares God’s plan with you. Remind yourself:

Salvation is my only function here.

     Thus do you lay forgiveness on your mind and let all fear be gently laid aside, that love may find its rightful place in you and show you that you are the Son of God.^[1]

[1] A Course in Miracles Complete & Annotated Edition.

Footnote 156. 1 John 4:8, 16 (RSV): “He who does not love does not know God; for God is love….God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” In the above reference, the fact that God is love means that all the painful appearances of the world are not His will, and therefore are not real. This stands in stark contrast to the usual reassurance that a tragic event must be all right because it is God’s will.

Personal Notes:

“Salvation is my only function here.” I borrow personal application from fellow course studier Eckie F. because I felt it was so well put and wanted to share this excerpt from www.eckiefriar.com on lesson 99.

“.  The world overwhelms me at times with all its demands and pressures.  I just feel as if the pressure at times is too much to bear and that I must be a weak and stupid and perhaps lazy person not to be able to handle it like other people.  But salvation is truly my only function here.  I am to be saved and in being saved myself, I save others.  I do not take Holy Spirit’s grace toward me for granted, I so appreciate it because I am wayward and when I am wayward, I lead others to be wayward as well.  I ask to be reminded moment-by-moment that salvation is my only function.  Please keep my nose out of other people’s business and please keep me from putting my opinions out there and encouraging others to perform other functions besides Salvation.  This world is not my home and it is not anybody’s home.  Please help me not to worry about it then the way I do.  Always concerned about if I am measuring up – please help me to trust your opinion of me and not give a second thought to the opinions of others.  In Jesus name, I pray.  Amen.”             Thank you for sharing with me. Walk in Love my friend!

God is Love

Love is God

I choose Love