Viewing the Bible as if it were one's own personal history is one of many ways of unlocking this great treasure chest of wisdom, understanding, and inspiration. Suppose that instead of lives being looked at through the eyes of a sociologist, anthropologist, or psychologist, they were viewed in terms of the structure of the Bible. Wouldn't we find a more accurate picture of mental and spiritual development?

Bible history illustrates the Hebrew people's ascending understanding of God—of what He is and of what He does. The Scriptures describe some of the evolution of the worship of God. They present a chronicle of the Christ in human thought. It's thrilling to review the ascending concept of God and how it evolved from a Jehovistic, sometimes angry, manlike being in the early books of the Bible to a more advanced spiritual concept in the later books.

Our own experiences may also be seen in terms of a growing understanding of God. The operation of the Christ in world affairs can be seen as a mirror in many ways of the operation of the Christ in our individual lives. A helpful approach is to remove one's concept of time from the Bible. Instead of seeing spiritual development as something that happened in the past, we should view it as a continuing unfoldment. This state of consciousness then becomes a sanctuary where the human coincides with the divine and the spiritual idea is understood, as St. John saw. Mrs. Eddy explains, "John saw the human and divine coincidence, shown in the man Jesus, as divinity embracing humanity in Life and its demonstration,—reducing to human perception and understanding the Life which is God." ^{Science and Health, p. 561;}

Our worship of God may follow the general pattern of that recorded throughout the Bible. In our early years our approach may have been elementary, even superstitious. Perhaps at some point in our lives the Christ revealed a deeper, higher, clearer concept of God, Spirit. We recall the profound healing effect this Christ, Truth, began to have in our lives. And was there a time when we entertained the deep desire to sacrifice, to leave all for Christ? And did we ever feel called, like Samuel, or like Paul on the road to Damascus?

The book of Job may well describe a trial of the flesh when materialistic concepts yield to spiritual revelation. We recognize in the psalms many of our intimate prayers, soul-searching communication with God, and songs of gratitude.

Specific events may relate to events in our lives. Remember the mention of a poor wise man who was capable of delivering a city? ^{See Eccl. 9:14,15;} Has our quiet good deed proved to be one of salvation for someone?

Remember when Jesus was asleep on the ship while a raging storm threatened to sink it? When the disciples woke him, he faced the turbulence and calmed the wind and waves. Sometimes we may feel besieged by hostile forces. But, responding to an awakening to the Christ within, we can face the troubled waters and find calm and healing.

Deep enjoyment and real development can come when we take a Bible reference, such as "Olivet," research it through a Bible dictionary, concordance, and the Bible. It's strengthening to contemplate the mountaintop experiences in our lives and to ponder what they bring to our understanding of divine metaphysics.

There is probably not a single incident, parable, or reference in the Scriptures that cannot be seen in its spiritual significance (perhaps metaphorically if not experientially) as indicative of the Christ in our lives.

Viewing the Bible in this way does indeed bring us all closer to the realization of the one body of Christ, of which we all are members. Paul referred to this when he wrote, "For we being many are...one body." ^{I Cor. 10:17;} Each of us has a purpose, as shown by the appearing of Christ in our lives. Everyone is important. Doesn't each individual have a place in the history of the everlasting Christ, which was before Abraham was? And doesn't this view give us a bright promise of the final revelation that leads into complete understanding? The spiritual sense of the Bible presented in Christian Science shows us that revelation is presently occurring through our progressive ascension. Eventually, we grow to the point where we can really understand and begin to prove what Christ Jesus meant when he said: "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." ^{John 16:28.}