The better part of the human race seeks a greater dominion over adverse conditions, in order to gain and enjoy a more abundant life. The actual need of mankind, and its highest aspiration, is that freedom of thought and action which constitutes full and perfect manhood. Accordingly, the use of true religion is to expel evil from human experience, to the end that each individual may reflect the Life that is God, divine good.
It is also true that whatever progress is being made toward this goal ought to be, and will be, manifest in present experience. Progress, truly considered, implies that human conditions and conduct are being made to conform to an ideal; and the only worthy ideal is that which is furnished by the absolute truth of being. The majority of believers, however, do not expect to realize full salvation without dying. They depict heaven as a situation on the other side of death. In the mean time they look for more discord than harmony, for more subjection than dominion; even though bondage to evil is often not recognized as such.
The Founder of the Christian religion referred to his message as "the gospel of the kingdom;" and of this kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God he said much in parables but several things explicitly. He said it is "at hand" (that is to say, it is present and within reach); he said it is "within you" (which is to say, it is a state of consciousness); and he said it comes upon you as devils or evils are cast out. Heaven, therefore, is not the sequence of death; it is an active state of goodness. It is gained by overcoming evil; not by dying, but by right living. The kingdom of heaven is the Consciousness of good. It is the reign of Life, Truth, and Love in man. We are in heaven here and now to the extent that we realize the actual qualities of true being.
