From Genesis to Revelation, one can trace in the Bible the development of humanity's concept of man's relationship to God. This relationship is really what life is all about. It explains one's identity or reason for being.

The book of Genesis relates the Lord's message to Abraham that he would "be a father of many nations and that God would establish His covenant with them and give them all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession."  ^{Gen. 17:4, 8.} This appeared to be a guarantee to the people of Israel that they would have a national heritage forever. In succeeding years the Jewish people have accepted this promise as constituting their right to the land later called Palestine, including the city of Jerusalem. During the centuries of their dispersal to other places, many have looked longingly for a return to their homeland. But in a larger sense, we can see that in establishing His covenant among men, God was addressing all people, not only one particular nation or religion.

The concept of Zionism, as developed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, sought a return by present-day Jews to the land dwelt in by their forefathers and now seeks the development of that homeland. But when we recognize Zion as a spiritual concept rather than a geographical place, it takes on a much more profound meaning. Part of the definition of "Zion" in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy, is, "Spiritual foundation and superstructure; inspiration; spiritual strength."  ^{Science and Health, p. 599.} A return to this Zion requires an understanding of the true worship of the one God, who is Spirit, not matter. Being a spiritually mental state, Zion is universal and secure in divine Mind, not subject to territoriality or loss. Also, how much more satisfying it would be for any of us who may think of Jerusalem only as home for a limited number of mortals, to seek and find the New Jerusalem, defined in the textbook as, "Divine Science; the spiritual facts and harmony of the universe; the kingdom of heaven, or reign of harmony."  ^{Ibid., p. 592.}

When both Zion and Jerusalem are understood to be spiritual, we are blessed by knowing they can be found in consciousness, and by recognizing that they are available to everyone. God's bestowals are not given to some but kept from others. All have access to His bounty and love. When this is sufficiently understood, a proper adjustment on the human scene comes naturally.

The blessings of the covenant God made with the people of Abraham through Moses were conditional on their willingness to obey God and to do His bidding. The Ten Commandments, ^{See Ex. 20:3-17 .} which Moses brought to the Israelites, were actually a covenant between them and God. These commandments assured the Israelites of security under a moral law. They spell out the individual's duty to obey God and to love both God and his fellowman. This set of laws is still a sure guide to life and peace in our present day.

The Old Testament prophets, Micah, Isaiah, and others, preached the need of turning away from materialistic tendencies to the Lord. In the face of the people's transgressions—their breaking of the divine covenant even though God had led them out of Egypt—Jeremiah quoted the Lord as saying, "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah."  ^{Jer. 31:31.} In this new covenant God would write His law in the people's hearts, and they would all know Him; God would forgive their sin. What a wonderful new beginning this would be!

The promise was fulfilled in the coming of Christ Jesus, who showed by living, as well as by teaching and healing, what the new covenant, or testament, signified. At his last supper, as recorded by Luke, he gave the cup to his apostles, saying as he did so, "This cup is the new testament in my blood."  ^{Luke 22:20.} The newness of Christ's covenant was seen in the demonstration of God as Love. This surpassed the more humanistic concept of a Jehovah who could hate and punish as well as love His children.

Jesus' teachings fulfilled the law given in Moses' Decalogue. They showed God's blessing to His children. The Master said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."  ^{Matt. 5:17.} He recognized that the Christ is universal, active far beyond a particular place or time. When he said, "Before Abraham was, I am,"  ^{John 8:58.} he truly identified himself with his Father, God, and showed that since God is Spirit, God's Son is therefore spiritual. In this light, the "covenant" of God and man could only be a divine oneness, unity—rather than duality; a perfect God and His reflection, perfect man, rather than a Deity separate from His creation. We can claim, then, our immortal, harmonious nature and reject any belief of inharmony or a power apart from God. This leads to healing in individual as well as in world affairs.

This "new covenant," this true relation of man to God, which had been lived by Christ Jesus, was revealed in the nineteenth century in Christian Science. The Discoverer of this Science, Mary Baker Eddy, saw the promises of the Bible as living realities. She showed that the moral law in the Decalogue and the teachings of the prophets are still applicable today, and she proved that Christian healing is as possible in this age as in Jesus' day. Her intention in organizing the Church of Christ, Scientist, was "to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing."  ^{Manual of The Mother Church, p. 17.}

Let us accept the covenant of blessing and obedience that God made with Abraham and Moses. Let us claim Jeremiah's promise of the "new covenant" as applying to us today. Then let us recognize the power of the Christ to reveal to all mankind the truth of their sonship with God. Science and Health states, "The thunder of Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount are pursuing and will overtake the ages, rebuking in their course all error and proclaiming the kingdom of heaven on earth. Truth is revealed. It needs only to be practised."  ^{Science and Health, p. 174.} This promise is being fulfilled. We can accept it and demonstrate the Truth that fulfills it in our daily lives!