When the children of Israel journeyed from Egypt to the promised land, God guided them in a remarkable way. Concerning this experience, the Scriptures say (Neh. 9:12), "Thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go." In its highest signification this phenomenon symbolized the illumination and protection of the divine presence, and the manifestation of this presence is sometimes referred to as the Shekinah.
Through our study of Christian Science, it becomes clear that our great necessity is much more than to believe that we live under God's protection; we must actually become conscious of God's presence and power. Mere trustfulness without understanding is blind faith. It is akin to material belief, which supposes the reality of illusion. Such belief can never bring us into the promised land of dominion over evil, or matter.
The rule of Christian Science is invariable and positive. It requires each of us to prove divine Love's ever-presence by departing wisely from the Egypt of materialism into the shelter of demonstrable individual spirituality. The true Shekinah or manifestation of God's presence must ever provide for us the haven of joyous Christian love and inspiration, felt within our own hearts. Truthfulness, kindness, conciliation, and chastity lead the way.
