Editorial October 27, 1956 Issue

"AS IT IS IN HEAVEN"

John J. Selover

Were it possible to traverse the kingdom of God, what would one observe? Would he be conscious of materiality, changing and changeable mortal beliefs, with their loves and hates? Would there be night and sorrow, sin, disease, and death? No! Christian Science makes it clear that none of these evidences of materiality and mortality exist in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus declared (Luke 17:20,21), "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." From this it follows that the heavenly habitation is not observable through the physical senses, but is discerned only through the spiritual senses. Heaven is not a place, but a divine state of Mind. It is not a distant locality, but is within our spiritual contemplation, within us. Mary Baker Eddy writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 267), "Heaven is harmony,—infinite, boundless bliss." And she adds, "Our great Teacher hath said: 'Behold, the kingdom of God is within you'—within man's spiritual understanding of all the divine modes, means, forms, expression, and manifestation of goodness and happiness."

That which is within Mind, or consciousness, is not capable of material definition. It is perceived by the spiritual senses, which alone comprehend the immortal, incorporeal form, color, quality, and quantity of that which exists in divine consciousness. It is of inestimable value to determine the nature of heaven, for that which is true in heaven is in reality true on earth, for heaven has no boundaries. Heavenly reality is ours to utilize and exemplify right here. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus declared (Matt. 6:10), "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Is there really a heaven and a material earth? Actually there is only heaven, but mortal belief urges two domains and falsely invests each with materiality.

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Attention, Members of the Armed Services and Their Families
October 27, 1956
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