Article April 15, 1950 Issue

HEAVEN IS NOW!

MILDRED ELWELL

To a world seemingly filled with fear, uncertainty, lack, and threats of war Christian Science brings the message, "Heaven is now!" For one who knows nothing about Christian Science, such a statement may seem not only startling but absurd. He may say, "Never before has there been so much turmoil, unrest, suffering, and unholy work afoot." Nevertheless, Christian Scientists are proving in some degree that heaven is now.

In the Glossary of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy heaven is defined thus (p. 587): "Harmony; the reign of Spirit; government by divine Principle; spirituality; bliss; the atmosphere of Soul." Mrs. Eddy also makes plain that heaven is a divine state of Mind, not a place. A divine state of Mind obviously can never be contingent upon or at the mercy of matter or its so-called conditions, because Mind is God, wholly good, forever perfect, changeless, and eternal. It follows logically, then, that the creation of this perfect Mind is also perfect: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good" (Gen. 1:31). God has not made an imperfect and changing creation, which must look to a future state for harmonious being, because such a state of harmony exists now.

Mankind generally accepts the fact that there is a heaven, but is often resigned to reaching it in a vague and distant future. Thus false theology brings about confusion, fear, and uncertainty regarding that which Christian Science teaches is the divinely natural state of man. The understanding of God as divine Mind and man as the reflection of this Mind makes way for the understanding and proof that creation is wholly good. Christ Jesus prayed (Matt. 6:9), "Our Father which art in heaven," thus identifying himself with God, Mind. This consciousness of his relationship to Mind enabled him to heal the sick and sinning, raise the dead, give sight to the blind— works which testify to the fact that heaven, harmony, is a present possibility. It is, then, only our lack of understanding of the true facts of being, as Christ Jesus taught them and as they are set forth in Science and Health, which claims to obscure the kingdom of heaven as ever present—at hand.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
NEEDFUL TO SAY
April 15, 1950
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit