It has ever been the earnest hope and desire of mankind to attain to that state of harmony which is known as the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven usually means to the individual that which constitutes his concept of happiness and goodness. The human concept may vary in accordance with the education, experience, and religious conviction of individuals. All are probably agreed, however, that heaven is that desirable state wherein happiness, satisfaction, and perfection are to be found.
The false teaching that heaven can be reached only after the experience termed death, which Jesus refuted, has been further discredited by the light which Christian Science throws on this subject. Jesus' statement, in speaking of little children, that "of such is the kingdom of heaven," and his further utterance, "The kingdom of God is within you," show the nature and forever presence of the kingdom of heaven. Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, gives the true and simple interpretation of the Master's words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she says (p. 291), "Heaven is not a locality, but a divine state of Mind in which all the manifestations of Mind are harmonious and immortal, because sin is not there and man is found having no righteousness of his own, but in possession of 'the mind of the Lord,' as the Scripture says."
This could be the only logical explanation of Jesus' statements, which show the kingdom of heaven to be not a future event or paradisaical place, but "a divine state of Mind." Thus, through Science, mankind is equipped with the hope, ability, and understanding whereby to realize and demonstrate a present state of spiritual happiness and satisfaction named heaven.
