Article August 15, 1942 Issue

Finding the Kingdom of God

MABEL WHITE RODOCKER

The words of our blessed Master, Christ Jesus, often caused a great stir in the minds of his listeners. Some, no doubt, measurably grasped the meaning of his teachings, but few, if any, fully understood some of his statements. At the time of the Jews' Passover, when he cast out those who sold in the temple, he was asked for a sign to prove his authority for doing such things. His answer was misunderstood, however, and not until after his resurrection did his disciples comprehend the true import of his words, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Many, however, believed in his name when they saw the works which he performed demonstrating the divine law in the working out of human problems.

According to the Gospel of John, a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, recognized Jesus' ability to heal sufficiently to seek him out and declare, "No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." Jesus replied, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This appeared impossible to Nicodemus, and he questioned further, asking if it were possible for one to go through the experience of human birth the second time. Jesus then, explaining what he meant, said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

The spiritual universe and man, of God's creating, expressing the infinitude of Mind, is presented in the first chapter of Genesis. Man is the full expression of God, Mind. It is only as this spiritual fact is understood and accepted that the true birth takes place in individual consciousness. Man's God-given dominion over all is denied in the record of a so-called material universe, beginning in the second chapter of Genesis. This material sense of things took form in "a mist" and presents darkness, helplessness, and sleep; while spiritual ideas were formed in light, and present a God-bestowed capacity for unlimited development and progress.

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