It is recorded in the Bible that on one occasion at the beginning of Jesus' ministry he saw two men following him. He turned about and asked them what they were seeking. Thereupon they asked him, "Where dwellest thou?" He then invited them to come and see. The record goes on to say that they abode with him that day. One of the two was so greatly impressed that he found his brother, brought him to Jesus, and they both became his disciples. Nowhere in the narrative is there recorded anything about Jesus' abode, but as a result of that following, two most ardent seekers of good were recruited to the Master's cause.

It must have been something far beyond a mere visit to Jesus' habitation which led the disciples to seek the Christ. They must have discerned at once something of that divine nature which he so abundantly expressed, and which would reveal to them the divine way of salvation. In another instance, even a first encounter led another one to exclaim, "Thou art the Son of God"—a truly remarkable saying.

The question of a human dwelling place has ever engaged the thoughts of men. Unceasing efforts have been made to provide a proper one, to protect it, and to make it secure. To enjoy it in security and tranquillity has been the object of countless endeavors. Such efforts are commendable, and true stability will be made manifest in human experience as thought is lifted above the material into the spiritual, above the human into the divine.

Jesus taught and demonstrated the allness of Spirit. He proved for all time that Spirit is All-in-all; that Spirit is all-powerful, ever present, and is the animating, life-giving Principle of the universe. He recognized the validity of spiritual law, the reality of spiritual substance, the actuality of spiritual good, the verity of spiritual facts. He completely eschewed the so-called laws of matter; he repudiated matter's false claims; he demonstrated the powerlessness of matter to affect the life of man by destroying its seeming conditions called sin, disease, poverty, and death. In reforming the sinner he destroyed the delusion that matter can impart or experience pleasure. In annihilating disease he proved that matter cannot suffer or cause suffering. In overcoming death he verified the eternal fact that matter cannot give life, injure life, or take away life. In overturning the belief of lack he demonstrated that matter cannot affect, deplete, or take away man's abundant supply of good.

All human experience is the expression of human consciousness. Human conditions are the outward manifestation of human thinking, the externalization of human beliefs accepted and entertained. Our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has said in her book "Unity of Good" (p. 4), "God is all true consciousness; and this convinces us that, as we get still nearer Him, we must forever lose our own consciousness of error." We learn in the Scriptures that we live, move, and have our being in God. Then the real man lives, acts, and dwells in God, the one divine, perfect consciousness, the Supreme Being, infinite good. As we dwell in true consciousness, in the realm of the real, our human experience must show forth the hue and nature of spiritual thinking. As we dwell in Soul our lives must be Soulful, beautiful, and grand. As we dwell in Spirit we shall express spirituality, nobility, and purity. As we dwell in Truth our speech and actions will manifest truthfulness, honor, and integrity. As we abide in Love we shall radiate loveliness, graciousness, and lovingkindness. The grace within will inevitably express beauty without.

"Where dwellest thou?" should be ever finding us responding, "I am abiding in spiritual consciousness; I am walking with the Christ; I am dwelling in infinite good; I am inhabiting the realm of Love." Do we want a more favorable environment, a greater peace, better health, and a more abundant supply? There is only one way that they can be gained, and that is through the spiritualization and purification of thought. Our human conditions do not shape themselves. They are the outgrowth of our states of consciousness. As our thinking is permeated with holiness and love, we must have wholly right, lovely, and harmonious conditions in all our affairs.

Frequently, we hear discussions about the need for a change of environment. What is environment? Ordinarily environment is thought of as that with which we are surrounded; that with which we are in frequent touch; that with which we are closely associated. Surely there is nothing with which we are more closely associated than our own thinking; there is nothing which can be more intimate and close to us than our own mental concepts. Then, improved environment can be brought about only in one way, that is through a purification of consciousness, a clearer understanding of that true consciousness which is God. A mere change of place does not change our thinking, but a change of thinking changes our concept of place. Our Leader has told us (Pulpit and Press, p. 4), "Who lives in good, lives also in God." And when we abide in God, and His perfect ideas are our constant companions, we see more of loveliness, goodliness, and beauty everywhere.

Our great Master dwelt in spiritual consciousness; he was listening to the holy messages of Spirit; he was constantly communing with God. There are several records in the Bible of his healing the multitudes. He was dwelling in the realm of reality, the kingdom of good, the jurisdiction of Love. He was seeing the perfect creation of God. By reason of his dwelling in the light of Truth, how easily he could dispel the shadows of sin, poverty, disease, and death! His holy consciousness saw that which God has created; it unsaw that which was not of Love's creating. What a divine opportunity is ours to think as he thought, to see as he saw, to know as he knew that which alone is real, the lovely, immaculate creation of God! As thought dwells in God, healing becomes spontaneous, joy is perennial, peace is abiding, bliss is unending. The gates that lead into the garden of God swing wide open for him who says from a humble heart, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth."