Article May 16, 1953 Issue

TRUE CONSCIOUSNESS, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

FLORENCE IRENE GUBBINS

One of the most rewarding studies in Christian Science is that of the word consciousness in the writings of our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. From this study one comes to the conclusion that true consciousness is divine. In order to find salvation from what parades as consciousness it is necessary for us to relinquish a false material sense of things—a world peopled with corporeal men and women—and to replace it with the consciousness of reality, of a universe filled with an infinite variety and diversity of ideas.

To accept Mrs. Eddy's glorious proclamation of being in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 536), "The divine understanding reigns, is all, and there is no other consciousness," is to experience the kingdom of heaven. Then the greatest happiness we could wish for those we love and for all mankind is a consciousness of the heaven within.

Most men and women long to be loved, and they would attain this happiness more readily if they longed, rather, to love. The Apostle John wrote (I John 4:19), "We love him [God], because he first loved us." Love always takes the initiative, and this brings the response of reflection. However, being humanly loved can never take the place of being conscious of oneself as the expression of divine Love. Since in reality we are immortal and spiritual beings—not corporeal and mortal, as we appear to be—nothing can satisfy us that is not divine in origin, for aught else is but temporary, subject to chance, change, and separation. But the consciousness of the kingdom of heaven within is safe from all outside assaults. It is independent of person, place, and time, and the key to this kingdom is to be found in divine Science, which reveals God to be All-in-all and man to be His reflection, perfect and complete.

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