FROM time immemorial mortals have speculated on the nature of the kingdom of heaven and how it is to be obtained. There are probably as many concepts of heaven as there are individual opinions of that which constitutes human happiness; and the desire to gain heaven has been prompted by the individual's idea of what heaven means to him, rather than what heaven really is, as it exists in divine Mind. From a popular theological point of view heaven is believed to be a future abode obtained only by those who have passed through the experience called death. The general belief in its futurity may be responsible, in a great degree, for a sense of procrastination on the part of mortals to make preparation to enter this heavenly environment.
In the New Testament there appear three distinct statements made by Christ Jesus in regard to heaven and how it is to be gained by mortals. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand;" "The kingdom of God is within you;" and, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." Thus the Master implied that heaven is gained through following his teachings. These words of his, coupled with the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures, as stated by Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," bring the kingdom of heaven in reach of present understanding and experience. On page 587 she gives the metaphysical meaning of "heaven": "Harmony; the reign of Spirit; government by divine Principle; spirituality; bliss; the atmosphere of Soul." A true realization of heaven may, therefore, be gained here and now; for one begins to learn that it is ever available when he knows that human contentment and happiness are due, not to any material condition, but to a right mental concept of things as they really exist in divine Mind.
It is noteworthy that the Master portrayed the kingdom of heaven through parables which relate to the occupations of mortals. In many instances he prefaced these parables with the words, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto"—and then followed the special occupation through which he wished to portray the application of truth. He paid tribute to the man who sowed good seed in his field, to the householder who went out early to hire laborers, to the laborer seeking employment in the vineyard, to the net that was cast into the sea, and in the instance of the king who made a marriage feast for his son—thus representing the work of the agriculturist, the capitalist, the laborer, the fisherman, and touching upon the necessity for applying the understanding of Truth to social affairs. In reading the Master's parables, one may see that he touched upon many phases of human thought and experience, thereby making clear the fact that heaven is gained by applying one's understanding of Truth to his thinking and daily occupation.
