When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come he told them that the kingdom of God is not a localized habitation. He said (Luke 17:21), "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, to there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Jesus went on to tell them that just as it was in the days of Noah "even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

Turning to Genesis, we find the sixth chapter opens with a description of the inhabitants of the earth in the days of Noah. In this description the spiritual and the material seem to mingle, and this condition is condemned by God. Noah and those with him in the ark, however, were found worthy to escape destruction.

The word Noah is defined by Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 592), as, "A corporeal mortal; knowledge of the nothingness of material things and of the immortality of all that is spiritual." Noah was a just man; he found grace with God; indeed, he walked with God, as we are told in the Scriptures. His close communion with God gave him spiritual discernment. He was instructed to build an ark, enter it, and remain there until the flood had subsided. He was obedient to God in every particular, and he and his family and the essential creatures of the creation which were with him in the ark were saved from destruction.

It is interesting to notice that when Jesus was questioned concerning the coming of the kingdom of God he referred to the time of Noah. Christian Science reveals the kingdom of heaven in man. It points to the fact that the nature of man is spiritual and that the universe, when rightly understood, is also found to be spiritual and not a combination of Spirit and matter.

Mrs. Eddy did not compromise with matter. It was revealed to her that all material phenomena are the result of materialistic thinking, and that spiritualization of thought causes the material to be eclipsed by the spiritual reality. Precisely how this works out in practice is an individual experience.

The student of Christian Science quickly realizes that this Science is producing great changes in his outlook. He no longer regards health, for instance, as a condition of matter. He does not use material remedies for relief. In the realm of Spirit he finds the only effective remedy, and he has the courage to trust spiritual means as all-sufficient for healing. Fear is replaced by courage and confidence; intolerance and domination are exchanged for tolerance and humility. Indifference to the suffering of others becomes impossible, and an increasing love for humanity and a desire to alleviate suffering and distress take its place.

These changes are numerous in their variety and far-reaching in their influences. To the extent that the spiritualization of thought goes on, the student becomes aware of greater freedom, poise, increasing peace, happiness, and unassailable health. His gratitude to God is awakened. He feels a lessening of fear and a greater security and strength than he ever felt before. No longer worried and troubled by what evil threatens to do to him, he puts his trust in Spirit, God, and anchors his faith firmly in the simple but profound truth of perfect God, perfect man, and complete demonstration as taught in Christian Science.

Like Noah, the Christian Scientist strives to be obedient, to be just and gracious, and to walk closely with God. This close walk with his Maker secures his safety, for in the event of danger wisdom directs him to do the right thing at the right time and thus preserve himself and those upon whom his thoughts and affections are centered.

The perilous times which Jesus pointed out would accompany the coming of the kingdom of God will not and indeed cannot touch the one who has learned even in a degree the reality of the spiritual and the unreal nature of the material. He may have struggles in the process of separating the material from the spiritual, but after the struggle is over he will see that less of the material remains and more of the spiritual is apparent.

The Master said that during the time of tribulation to which he referred there would be two in the field and that one would be taken and the other left. May not this indicate that as the kingdom of God comes on earth, and it has come through Christian Science, the material would be taken and replaced by the spiritual? "Does this mean," it may be asked, "that we will enter a transcendental realm of Spirit that is intangible?" No, far from it. Spirit is not intangible, except to the materialist, who understands existence only in terms of matter. Spirit is substance.

Those who resist the spiritual revolution which is going on in our midst, those in fact who cling to the reality of the material, must change their viewpoint in order to succeed, for sooner or later circumstances will compel humanity to turn wholeheartedly to God, obey His laws, and build according to His orders. We have the opportunity now to enter the ark, a state of mind which Mrs. Eddy describes in part in the following words (Science and Health, p. 581): "Safety; the idea, or reflection, of Truth, proved to be as immortal as its Principle; the understanding of Spirit, destroying belief in matter." We are well advised to enter this ark and take note of the call of the Christ, which is summoning all peoples and nations in these latter days.

Robert Ellis Key