Article December 30, 1944 Issue

Heaven at Hand

MICHAEL ST. JOHN O'CARROLL

How many of us have not at some time stood in awe before some beauty of nature—the Alps in a winter sun, moonlight in the tropics, a colorful garden, or a lovely landscape—and murmured with more truth than we were aware of at the moment, "Isn't it heavenly?" We were not so far from the truth in applying this adjective to that which to the five senses appears very material, for we discover in Christian Science that heaven is not a part of another world or the locale of a future form of existence.

In several instances Mary Baker Eddy tells us that all that is beautiful and grand points to the one creative Mind, whose sublimity, beauty, and order permeate all creation. On page 573 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes, "This testimony of Holy Writ sustains the fact in Science, that the heavens and earth to one human consciousness, that consciousness which God bestows, are spiritual while to another, the unillumined human mind, the vision is material." It follows that the degree in which one's experience approaches heaven or hell depends not so much on one's surroundings as on one's own spiritual vision and understanding.

Christian Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you." Hence it follows that heaven is not just a place that is reached after a struggle through matter and materialism, but is spiritual consciousness, a state of Mind. It is inherent in man, and we can enjoy it in proportion to our demonstration of man's eternal unity with divine Mind. Governed by Mind and sustained by Principle, man's only dwelling place is heaven. Spiritual man, and in reality there is no other man, forever dwells in this infinite bliss, where peace and love, health and happiness, eternally abide.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

A Lesson from Puppets