In the Christian Science Bible Lesson April 21, 2014 Issue

How to experience heaven now

For the Lesson titled “Probation After Death” from April 21 - 27, 2014

Brian Hall

Some Christians believe that the life we spend here on earth is a big test for us. Then, after we die, we are evaluated and sent to heaven or hell. Depending on the version of this theological doctrine, there may even be a waiting period—a time of probation—before we can get to God, to heaven. This week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson, titled “Probation After Death,” addresses this topic, showing us that we do not need to wait for some distant future evaluation; we are able to experience our full relationship with God now.

The Golden Text states this for us right from the beginning of the Lesson, in Mark 1:15: “The kingdom of God is at hand.” The reign of God is present and active. Matthew uses a slightly different term to refer to this reign—“the kingdom of heaven” (3:2, citation 6). The term heaven reminds us of the blessings this reign of God has for us. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, we read: “Heaven represents harmony .... and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man” (p. 560, cit. 14).

The Lesson discusses what we need to do to ensure that we experience the harmony of God’s kingdom now. The Responsive Reading recommends a number of qualities to possess and express for entrance into “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord,” such as faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (see II Peter 1:5–7, 11).