Heaven Is at Hand

George Shaw Cook

Nothing was ever more truly spoken than the oft-quoted words of Jesus, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." And yet mortals have persistently held to the belief that heaven, harmony, happiness, health, may be found in some place other than where they are.

This mistaken belief has obtained very largely because of the false theological teaching—entirely contrary to that of Jesus—that heaven is a place afar off, to which one must go through an experience called death. Christian Science teaches, as its Discoverer, Mary Baker Eddy, has said on page 291 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," that heaven "is not a locality, but a divine state of Mind." And this teaching in regard to heaven exactly agrees, it will be seen, with that of Jesus.

Since heaven is not a place, but a divinely harmonious state of Mind, or consciousness, it is plain that it is not to be found in one place more than in another; hence the frequent disappointment of persons who have believed that they could find happiness or health merely by going somewhere. Happiness, then, is not to be found by going to the mountains, or to the seashore, or to any other place, and those who seek it thus are likely to be disillusioned, unless they take with them the "divine state of Mind" which ensures harmony—the kingdom of God, within—wherever one may be. Relatively speaking, enjoyment may seem to be more present in one place than in another; but real joy, which is spiritual, is not attained by going somewhere, or anywhere. Joy is to be found only in right thinking, right knowing, and right doing. Joy resides only in spiritual consciousness.

Likewise, health—a concomitant of heaven—is not to be had by going to some place where the climate is supposed to be salubrious. "Health," Mrs. Eddy says on page 120 of Science and Health, "is not a condition of matter, but of Mind." Since health is spiritually mental, it is not a question of geography or climate, but of thinking. Real health, then, is not to be found in Switzerland more than in Scandinavia; in California more than in Connecticut. Health is not physical, but spiritual. It is consciousness of man's spiritual wholeness, or perfection, as the idea of divine Mind.

Therefore, health should be sought, and can only be found, through realization of the truth of being. Realization of the divine fact as they exist in the realm of Mind brings into human experience an improved condition of belief which is outwardly manifested in what is ordinarily termed normal physical health. To attain this is an important step in the right direction, and those who pursue the path of right thinking faithfully and persistently will ultimately be led into the full realization that the kingdom of heaven—including spiritual health and absolute harmony—is within, and is, therefore, at hand.

In like manner, the teaching that immortality is to be found only "beyond the grave" has resulted in the erroneous belief that one can know nothing of immortal life except by first passing through the experience of death—the very opposite of Life. However, Christ Jesus, the Way-shower to immortal harmony, said, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Eternal life is not, then, to be found by dying and going to any place or locality, but by knowing—understanding—God, who is the only Life, here and now. This understanding of God which constitutes heaven, harmony, immortality, is available to all through Christ, the spiritual idea of God, as revealed in Christian Science. Sooner or later, here or hereafter, all must seek and find, through divine Science, the conscious realization of man's eternal, indestructible unity with God, who is man's life, now an forever.

Many who have sought happiness in change of location, environment, or association, and have not found it; many who have looked for life and health in matter, and have found only disease, suffering, and pain, have been comforted and consoled by the words of our beloved Leader, on page 322 of Science and Health: "The sharp experiences of belief in the supposititious life of matter, as well as our disappointments and ceaseless woes, turn us like tired children to the arms of divine Love. Then we begin to learn Life in divine Science."

George Shaw Cook

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