Would it not be wonderful to live in a realm of changeless beauty, to enjoy uninterrupted health, and to experience unalloyed happiness? The realm of God, or the kingdom of heaven, includes just such a prospect. When Christ Jesus healed the sick and reformed the sinner, he did so because he was aware of the heavenly harmony existing here and now as a state of consciousness. He said (Luke 17:21), "The kingdom of God is within you." That which is within us is clearly consciousness; nothing more, nothing less. How true, therefore, were the words of Jesus (Mark 1:15), "The kingdom of God is at hand."
Mary Baker Eddy has defined the kingdom of heaven on page 590 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" as "the reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme." The changeless consciousness, which is the expression of Spirit, is the spiritual consciousness of man. We cannot doubt the invariable goodness of God; why then should we disbelieve in the changeless consciousness which is ours as children of God?
To find out the truth in any situation it is wise to begin by a consideration of the subject of God. Mrs. Eddy gives us full and comprehensive definitions of God in Science and Health. She also points out some of the false concepts of God which have long prevented mankind from gaining a correct estimate of existence. Should we wish to gain a correct estimate of man, we can do this only by first obtaining a right understanding of God. An ignorance of God would naturally result in an ignorance concerning the true nature of man. In proportion as God is correctly understood, this understanding will result in the kingdom of God and our citizenship therein becoming clear to us.
