IN the Old Testament it is recorded that devout men believed that they sometimes saw God's presence as light enveloped in a cloud, which they called the Shekinah. This symbol is referred to in the Bible as "a light . . . above the brightness of the sun" and "the glory of the Lord" and is said to have appeared at the time of Jesus' birth and on another occasion during his ministry. It is interesting that the word "Shekinah" itself is not used in the Bible, but is found in the vocabulary of spiritually minded men and women. It is used in sacred writings and is now listed in many Bible dictionaries.
Through spiritual enlightenment and unfoldment the concept of God has changed from that of a tribal deity who could be moved by flattery, sacrifice, and intrigue to give or withhold his blessings to that of Deity as divine Science reveals Him—Spirit, Life, and Love, wholly impartial. Just so, the concept of the Shekinah as a visible cloud of light, which appeared on rare occasions, bringing God's presence to a few, has changed to the concept of God as omnipotent, everywhere present, and available to all. The realization of God's ever-presence comes to that human consciousness which has been purified through Christian Science of the educated belief of life and intelligence in matter and regenerated through the understanding of the spiritual nature of creation.
Because of his realization of his spiritual origin Christ Jesus was always conscious of man's indissoluble unity with his creator, God. Thus he could say with understanding, "I and my Father are one;" "He that sent me is with me;" and. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." And he proved not only that God is the author of man, but that God and man are one in being as cause and effect; that man in the order of divine being expresses the qualities of the Father; and that therefore he is endowed with spiritual strength, intelligence, and wisdom. The Master clearly perceived that God is not manlike, as had been the common belief, but that the real man is Godlike, hence spiritual and perfect. His understanding of God's wholeness and completeness and everywhereness and of man's likeness to God gave him the power to lift the thought of those who came to him for healing out of the bondage of the mortal belief of sin, sickness, and death. Thus erroneous belief yielded to the Christ, and healing was instantaneous.
