The opening verse of the ninetieth Psalm, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations," voices a profound truth, the vital significance of which has been grasped by but few. Moses, who is credited with having written this Psalm, as well as Enoch, who "walked with God: and he was not; for God took him," must have seen the truth that man lives in God, Spirit. Likewise Elijah, who was translated, passing from this earth experience without tasting death, must have realized clearly that man dwells, not in matter, but in Spirit. Prior to the first century of the Christian era others glimpsed this great spiritual fact, and, through faith in God, wrought wonders and experienced marvelous deliverance from evil.
It is undeniable that the one of all time who most clearly discerned and most completely demonstrated the truth about God as the only Life, and man as the immortal child of God, who is Love and Truth, was Christ Jesus. Knowing that matter is not intelligent and creative, this accurate spiritual thinker gave explicit instruction that we should not accept the thought of human parentage, because, he said, we have one Father, even God. Furthermore, the Master proved that matter is but a false mental concept, and that Spirit, divine Mind, is omnipotent and all-governing. Through spiritually mental treatment he healed congenital blindness and all sorts of disease; he walked on the water and stilled the storm; he called Lazarus from the tomb, even as he had previously overcome death with the daughter of Jairus and a young man at Nain.
In giving instruction how his followers might obey his command to heal the sick and otherwise follow his example, Christ Jesus said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing;" and, again, he counseled men not to take anxious thought about their physical bodies, but rather seek to have their thoughts governed by God. By both precept and example the Master sought to turn men from matter to Spirit, from death to life in God, from evil to good, from selfishness, fear, and hate to the expression of divine Love in unselfish service to others, forgiveness, compassion, and trust in good. In his teaching and practice Jesus did all he could to show that man lives in God, Spirit, not in matter. In his resurrection and ascension our Exemplar proved conclusively that man is spiritual and is not subject to matter and its seeming conditions.
