Editorial April 22, 1911 Issue

THE EVERLASTING COVENANT

Annie M. Knott

In the fiftieth chapter of the prophecy of Jeremiah we read that in the latter days people would seek after God with their whole heart, and say, "Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten." Throughout the Scriptures we find many references to God's covenant with His people, one being that which follows the account of the flood, where we are told that the "bow in the cloud" will be throughout the years a token or symbol of the changeless goodness of God. There would be no change on the part of the infinite Father,—His covenant would endure "to a thousand generations," as the psalmist poetically expresses it; the question was whether men would keep covenant with God, and so be spared the miseries which must ever follow the neglect of divine law or disobedience to it.

The student of Christian Science is often reminded of God's covenant as it was impressed upon the children of Israel by Moses, soon after their escape from the bondage of Egypt. It reads: "The Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee." In another place we have a similar statement, coupled with the declaration, "I am the Lord that healeth thee." It is indeed strange that this covenant should have been forgotten by mankind, since it is of such vital importance to them at all times, and they have everything to gain and nothing to lose by a faithful observance of it. With health of mind and body men are equal to any effort, there is joy in living, and fresh strength comes with even the most toilsome tasks; but, alas, this condition is far from being universal. Not only are sickness and sin found in close association with poverty, but also with riches.

This was the case in the time of Christ Jesus, and it characterizes no less the civilization of the present time, because mortals look in every direction but the right one for the cause and cure of the ills which afflict them; in other words, they have forgotten "the everlasting covenant," although through all the ages of mortal and material belief, the covenant was unbroken on the divine side. God is never less than infinite in His purpose and power to bless, to save, and to heal; yet, strange to say, it was for declaring and demonstrating this great truth that Christ Jesus was hounded at every step by hatred, and finally nailed to the cross; but this only enabled him to prove more fully that every one who understands God's covenant well enough to keep it, is victor at every step of the way. This was the Master's teaching at the hour of his supreme triumph over death and the grave, when he said, "My Father and your Father; ... my God, and your God."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

THE DIVINE NEARNESS