HEAVEN BY LILLIAN DEWATERS
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. him. 1 Cor. 2:9 “When God is seen with men to dwell, And all creation makes anew, What tongue can half the wonders tell? What eye the dazzling glories view?”
LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO THE HOSTS OF READERS NEAR AND FAR WHO HAVE BEEN HELPED ON THEIR WAY BY THINKING HEAVENWARD
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From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. — MATT. — MATT. 4:17.
Jesus did no works of healing prior to his forty days‟ fast in the wilderness. wilderness . From that time he began to preach and teach publicly, making known to the people that the revelation of eternal life would now be declared to them. He must have meant: “Repent ye! ye ! Forsake ye the old way of thinking and and living; give up your present erroneous ideas of life; for I am here to instruct you and to teach you the truth about heaven.” The Master taught that it is necessary for us to put on the seamless robe, — the — the consciousness that believes in good only, and recognizes God as the only power; in proportion as we do this, will all evil become unnatural and unreal to us; suffering and limitation will cease; and we will enter heaven, which is the abode of love, peace, and harmony. Try it for yourself. obtained.
The only proof that a theory is correct is the result result
Refuse to believe in the reality of all material phenomena, clinging to the reality and presence of one Mind, good. This is the way to demonstrate demonstrate in a practical manner the presence of heaven. The greatest good that we can do for anyone is to help destroy for him his belief in the reality of matter. “Lo, I [the spir itual itual reality] am with you alway.” al way.” The underlying hypothesis of all the teachings of Jesus is the unreality of matter. The dynamic force of every single miracle is the unreality of matter. matter. Nothing but good, the real, possesses duration. The only absolute phenomena, the only realities of heaven are divine Mind and its ideas. Heaven, the perfection of being, can only be entered, entertained, in proportion as consciousness through the understanding of spiritual realities, separates itself from every thought which is unlike Go(o)d. Each must deal directly with with the the Father. To each may be given “the hidden manna,” the “new name written;” but you must “work out [with God] your own salvation.”
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No one can properly force open a rosebud; nor will it give forth wondrous bloom without the th e necessary nourishment. Unfoldment of God comes to each individual gradually, as he is ready for it, — as he reaches out for it and welcomes it. If you are half-hearted, half half awake, you will not accomplish accomplish much. Stir up the gift of God, which is in you. — II — II TIMOTHY. Let every man prove his own work. — GALATIANS. — GALATIANS.
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Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. — MATT. — MATT. 5:3. Those who are humble in thought find easy access into heaven. “By humility are riches and life.” — PROVERBS. — PROVERBS.
Heaven, the spiritual spiritual kingdom, is a perfection of being to be lived. It is the world of reality where there is nothing but God and His manifestation. Suppose this truth about God and heaven is explained to two individuals, both of whom are in quest of health. The first questions: “How long l ong will it take me to be healed of my sickness and to understand God aright?” “The demands of Spirit are that you give up your present erroneous ways of thinking and living. living. It may take a day, a week, a month, month, or even longer for you you to manifest the the health which is of heaven; but what if if it does? Have you not been sick in mind and body for months and years? It generally takes time to gain a working knowledge of music, of art, etc.; and, similarly, it takes time to gain an understanding of the Science of Life. No human can tell you at at just what moment your sickness will disappear. When you become become conscious that life and intelligence are purely spiritual, your body will then utter no complaints.” The individual, disappointed that anything is required of him, goes haughtily on his way, and carries c arries his sickness with him. The second, bowed with the weight of trouble and disease, yet, with hungry, earnest expression, queries: “How long will it take me to regain health; to run and leap; to be free again?” Upon hearing the demands of Spirit, he exclaims, with a glad smile, “I am willing to try, — and to wait.” Whereupon, he finds that he is instantaneously healed of his physical trouble; or else, within a very short time he is free. “The natural man receiveth receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him.” — I. COR. COR. We must must become as little little children in order to grasp spiritual understanding, — in order to understand God and heaven. God is is the sum total of all good. The Bible declares Him as Life, Truth, Love. God is also ever-present Principle, which destroys the evil when man stops thinking wrongly and thinks rightly. rightly. God is always always with us, and when we cease to think evil the good becomes manifest.
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Intellect argues; but the simple, child mind drinks unquestioningly of the deep things of God. The human thought longs to know God; but how how does it seek? The most popular method has been the beseeching method. Do we have to beseech the sun to shine? No. It always radiates light. We do not have to beg and implore God for blessings, any more than we have to implore the sun for light. No matter what we humans do God God never changes.
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Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. — MATT. — MATT. 6: 1.
We should be careful not to put forward our thoughts or deeds for the purpose of attracting attention. attention. Let us be inspired only by the glad, earnest earnest promptings of a grateful heart. “Cast away personality, personality, sacrifice it, for what is left is the essence of life — life — Love. Love.”” — TOLSTOY. — TOLSTOY. The cold, calculating thought which measures and outlines what it should receive because of what it has given, does not understand aright the law of giving and receiving. receiving. We should give give and do right right because we love love God; not because we want something in return. Love is the divine way to heaven. “With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” — MATTHEW. We mete mete what we are, — are, — our our own character is measured back to us; in exactly the degree that consciousness comprehends divine Love and expresses it, will one experience Love returning to him. him. We possess only what we give. We receive from Love just what what we give out of love. Emerson said: “That only which we have within can we see without.” Therefore it is not necessary nor essential that we seek a prominent locality to shine out our works of faith. The place to begin our sunshine is in the home. home. Let us seek reformation and regeneration there. We may consider ourselves fettered by our environment, and be inclined to blame certain existing circumstances for our inharmonious condition. Environment is our opportunity to become strong and to overcome limitation. Whatever place we occupy, occupy, that is the the place for us to be. In that place we we have lessons to learn; weaknesses to overcome; ideals to work out. An individual cannot demonstrate demonstrate more than he understands of Principle. Principle. In proportion as he honestly, earnestly ea rnestly and industriously applies ap plies what he already knows, will his understanding be increased. Newness of life and regeneration flows in us, in proportion as it flows from us. Understanding and its use are metaphysically equivalent. What we receive from the Father we must must give out to the world, keeping a perfect equilibrium between the inflowing and the outflowing, the receiving and the giving. A pool cannot be kept sweet and clean unless there is an outlet as well as an inlet. It is our business to keep the outlet outlet open. Unless we are using for the service of others what God has already given us, or what has already been unfolded within us, we will find it a long, dreary road to spiritual understanding. Some one has said: “We should never think, say, say , nor do anything except with the object of helping another or becoming ourselves better men.” 6
Our progress depends upon the number of hours out of the twenty-four that we think rightly. Every man is responsible for his own living. He makes makes it by his thought. Every time time we reverse a wrong thought it becomes easier for us. Shakespeare said: “And many strokes, though with a little axe, Hew down and fell the hardest-timbered hardest-timbered oak.” No thought is ever lost, the the dye of it stains the universe. “A thought is i s like the smallest seed; When given a place to grow, It bursts into a living thing, Like unto that we sow. “Whate‟er you do, watch how you think; Make no mistake in this; Whate‟er you sow‟, will surely grow, And yield you woe or bliss.”
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Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, — but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. — MATT. MATT. 6:19, 2O. Right ideas are “treasures in heaven,” worldly beliefs are “treasures upon earth.”
Poor people are those who are not conscious of the ideas of divine Mind, and of their relation to to them. One may have accumulated a fortune of dollars, acres of land, mines of gold; yet, if he has not secured these things from the one Father, the only resource, he has not even touched the hem of the garment of true riches. The lily lily in the field field does not strive strive for anything. It is content to to feel the warmth of the sun; the thrill of the rain; the touch of the wind; and unfold daily in its simple, fragrant beauty. Oh, if we we could only know and content ourselves to rejoice that divine Love and the realities of heaven are allsufficient for us! The light of a new day is dawning dawning upon us. The day of ridiculing mental mental healing has passed. The world is waking waking to the knowledge that the miracles of Jesus are based upon universal, spiritual law, — law, — present present now as much as then. To-day there are millions of spiritual, mental workers throughout the world bringing good, health, joy, and prosperity into their own own lives and into the lives of others, by applying the words of the M aster: “And ye shall know the truth [the facts of Life], and the truth shall make you free [and your knowledge of Truth shall free you from all seeming power of evil].” It is the Truth, and our consciousness of oneness with it, which purifies, transforms, and redeems us. If our desires have God in them they must be fulfilled; for this is the secret spring which yields us prosperity and success. External wealth wealth comes from righteousness (right-use-ness) or the use of right ideas. Outer symbols follow naturally the consciousness of inner wealth. As he [man] thinketh in his heart so is he. — PROVERBS. — PROVERBS.
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Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. — MATT. MATT. 7:21.
By no means are all who profess to worship God His true disciples; nor by any means are all these worshipping ones entering heaven. Only those who are demonstrating their understanding of Life by their healing works, — by removing sickness, sin, and limitations by the Christ-method, — are entering heaven. Eternal life must be earned; and there is a price to pay for it. Opportunity is now; but our use of opportunity determines our rate of progress. Let us be about our Father‟s business now; “the “ the night cometh, when no man can work.” This means that we may let opportunity slip by too often; and, when we would behold Truth, because of our continued stay in darkness, Truth, the light, may seem afar off to us. When is the the best time time for us to learn the truth truth about ourselves? About God? About heaven? Now. What is spiritual understanding? It is the revelation of Truth to the individual consciousness. We each have to seek within within our own consciousness this revelation revelation of the living Christ. Realization cannot be given us by any human human being; nor can it be bought with any coin. Each of us must must “seek and find” the way to eternal life. life . We prove our knowledge of God, our understanding of Life Life by our works. There is is no other method method of of determination. Jesus‟ endowment was from “on high.” It is from this same altitude that the Christ-mind will come to us. Ultimate salvation from all sin is inevitable. St. Paul says: “Every knee shall bow to me [be humbled], and every tongue shall confess [acknowledge] to God.” — ROMANS. — ROMANS. “With all thy getting get understanding.” All that there is to be learned is within the reach of man. man. To be open and receptive to new and true ideas is the attitude of mind necessary, if we desire to grow in understanding and knowledge. Begin simply. simply. What you you do not understand to-day may be clear to to you to-morrow. “Within is the foundation of good and it will ever bubble up if thou wilt ever dig.” — MARCUS — MARCUS AURELIUS.
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Take thought about your thought. Every thought has an an effect. Just consider how true it is that the greatest miseries of the world come through wrong thinking. When right thinking commences, righteousness begins. We must not attempt attempt to put new wine into into old bottles. Many try to do this. this. It is is one thing to get hold of a new idea; it is quite another thing to let go an old idea. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear [open] ... I will come in.” — REVELATION. — REVELATION. God knocks on the door. Man must open it, — he must open up his consciousness, — consciousness, — be be quickened, in order to receive and retain good. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; ... the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.” — JOHN. JOHN.
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And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching ... and preaching the gospel of the kingdom [of heaven], and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. — MATT. — MATT. 9:
The great Teacher united preaching and healing, and this is what we should do. It is he who teaches by healing and heals by teaching that shall wear the crown. Religion is the endeavour to understand and practise the law of God. The real test of religion religion is: Are its doctrines demonstrable? There is not a passage in in the Bible which warrants the once popular belief that sickness and death are the will of God. Just supposing it were true that God sent sickness to certain individuals. Now, when the physician with his medicine kit arrives at the bedside of the patient, isn‟t he a sinner, — an — an accomplice with the sick man, daring to defy God? If the sick one thinks God sent him the sickness, how dare he even attempt a ttempt to get rid of it, and still affirm affir m his allegiance to God? Doctors and nurses also would be defying God every hour of the day, even daring to keep good individuals out of heaven. And the hospital! Would it not be the „home of a defiant, rebellious people, working in opposition to the will and law of almighty God? “Awake thou that sleepest.” Let the Christ Truth give thee light (understanding). (unde rstanding). Evil, with its false accompaniments of matter, sin, sickness, and death, is but a false belief, unsustained by God. Physical deformities deformities are not man, nor any any part of man. The mortal body is but the th e visible expression of mortal mind. mind . As we remove error from thought it ceases to appear in effect. God is Truth. To believe evil is true is to break the commandment to have only one God. What is untrue must be unreal; for only that that which is eternal is true and real. Sin, sickness, and death death are not eternal; they come come not from God and cannot cannot be true. God made good only. All that is opposed to good is uncreated, unfounded, hence with no true or lasting existence and subject to destruction. Jesus destroyed destroyed sickness, sin, and even death. His thought was free from the belief in the power and reality of matter. We have been deceived into believing that we are material beings in a material world and that we are subject to sickness and death. There is no truth in such a theory. In truth man man is now spiritual and perfect in the the kingdom of heaven. But we see the perfect creation, heaven, all wrongly because of our wrong concept. We see “through “through a glass, darkly.” We see heaven through a “mist,” “mist,” — the — the material senses which cannot cognize God. 11
Even, at present, we can discern some of heaven; for all the love, the peace, the harmony, the good, the pure, we see around us, is of God, and must belong to heaven. In other words, the kingdom of heaven is yours just to the extent that you get into it. How far are you in? The baptism of John symbolized the cleansing and purifying of the mind of all wrong thoughts thoughts and beliefs. Jesus submitted to this baptism. It is necessary that we also let all fear, worry, prejudice, narrowness, be washed away in the cleansing water of denial; and let the inner kingdom be entered by affirmation of its reality. Every one must learn learn and practise the methods methods of Christ Jesus. Why not now? Nothing is conquered until self is overcome. “Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.” — ACTS ACTS (R. V.). Who did hinder you you that ye should not obey the truth? truth? - GAL.
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As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. — MATT. — MATT. 10:7.
Jesus recognized that heaven is within reach of all; nay, even here for us to behold. Many a one has pictured heaven as the dwelling-place of God and His angels; and presumed it was beyond the clouds, where the white throne is, upon which rests the the book of life. life. Hymns tell us that loved ones shall meet meet “ beyond the river,” where harps are played, and where the str eets eets dazzle with gold. Had Jesus believed believed that heaven is in the skies skies he would have located it there. What is simpler and clearer than the truth that heaven is where where God is? Can we think of God God and heaven separated? Obviously, no. Therefore, since God God is everywhere, everywhere, it it necessarily follows that heaven is is everywhere. everywhere. Simply because one has not experienced heaven does not deny the fact that heaven is a present reality. Suppose one found himself out in the ocean, dying of thirst. Although water surrounded him, believing it it to be salt, he did not partake of it. But he hears a cry from a distance, “Dip down and drink, — you are in fresh water!” Immediately he drinks and lives. Now, what what has changed the man from a dying to to a living condition? Merely his thought. His wrong wrong belief yielded to the voice of truth. It is just like this in regard to heaven and the material world. People believe the world is material — and — and so starve, thirst, suffer, die. Now what is the truth? God and heaven are right here but are hidden to the material senses. This kingdom for which all mankind is looking, is the world world of reality, waiting for man‟s recognition and acceptance. acceptance . It is heaven heaven that that we see in in proportion as “old things” (thoughts) have passed away. The material man man is but a false sense of the real and spiritual spiritual man. It is only this false view which needs correction correction and destruction. Jesus tells us in John 8: - that the natural man is not the true man. Through daily study of the Bible and spiritual literature, we can dwell mentally in heaven, though we walk on earth, until this earthy thought-world fades from our consciousness, like a dream, and we “know even as also” we are “known.” Whosoever ... shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. — MATT. — MATT. 10: 32, 33.
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We should always be ready to voice the truth; gratefully acknowledge good whenever and wherever wherever the opportunity is afforded us. We best confess our understanding of Life, by sin forsaken; by sickness destroyed; by limitations removed. When we are showing to the world that our hearts are humble, grateful, tolerant; that our desires are pure, holy, and unselfish; and, that through spiritual realization we preach the gospel, heal the sick, — sick, — then then are we confessing God before men. God confesses us whenever we we confess God. When we realize that our present sickness is not of God, that it has no place in us and we have no place in it, then does God confess Himself to us, — us, — then then will perfect health be revealed to us, in manifested wholeness of body. The doctors‟ theories change; but God never . Every year new diseases are invented. Some rush to to get them them as they would would to secure the latest style of gown. The human mind mind is always changing, that is why there are so many many fresh causes and cures for diseases. Heaven, — the truth, — remains, and there is no disease in God. People should not study disease in in order to cure it; but they should study health. Can anyone learn of mathematics by studying mistakes? Can anyone learn music by studying discords? No. Therefore, to learn of health we must study God. People run hither and thither seeking satisfaction in multitudinous ways, yet without finding it. Why? Because they are denying God before men. Because of their restless, unsatisfied minds, they seek places of gaiety and amusement, and with with what result? They starve their souls, — and they become nervous, irritable, anaemic, anaemic, and diseased. God, good, has been denied such an one according to divine law. In order to have true life, with with its fullness of joy, we must feed the thought with Truth — the — the bread of Life. Then will the love of God satisfy you. “Put ye ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to to fulfil the lusts thereof.” — ROMANS. — ROMANS. In the degree that we understand and demonstrate the truth of God, we are in heaven. When we deny God we are in hell. We make make our own heaven and our own hell after the fashion fashion of our thoughts. The time is fully fully ripe for us to wake wake up and get out of wrong thinking (hell) into heaven, the consciousness of right ideas. This world of perfection perfection is here now, if we would but see it. “At last the veil is lifted; I open my eyes and lo! I stand in the midst of heaven, With its beauties all aglow.”
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To be sure, there are those those who will scoff at the idea that heaven is here! They can only associate heaven as “up yonder,” a place of “many “many mansions.” “How ridiculous ridiculous that heaven is here!” Do you remember that centuries ago people exclaimed, “How ridiculous that the earth is round” ? Yet, it was scientifically proven that the earth never was flat, it always was and is round. round . What became of the “flat earth”? earth”? It went out of the people‟s minds, m inds, the only place it ever existed. Now, as the flat earth was was only a lie about the the round earth, so it is true true that this material world is but a lie or mistaken sense of the real world, heaven. “Men changed the truth of God into a lie.” — ROMANS. — ROMANS. God is one God and present everywhere. More and more more will we become become conscious that heaven is among us. Even now, those of us, who look for it, will catch a glimpse of it. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; ... and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” — REV. — REV.
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Verily I say to you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. — MATT. — MATT. 2:11.
John the Baptist was a great messenger; yet he was without works. He had not the right understanding of God; and he who comprehends and demonstrates the realities of heaven is far greater than he who has “faith without works.” The knowledge Jesus possessed of this faith was such that he was able to heal every form of disease and overcome every limitation; and he said: “The works that I do shall shall he do also.” He called twelve disciples and gave them authority over “unclean spirits ... and to heal all manner of sickness.” The metaphysical interpretation of some of the names of these disciples are: Simon, faith; James, judgment; Andrew, strength; Philip, power; John, love; Bartholomew, conception; James (son of Alphaeus), order; Simon (the Canaanite), zeal; Matthew, receptiveness. When we call forth these qualities qualities of consciousness we must be lifted from all fetters. We should not use prayer or treatment simply and entirely to restore physical harmony. True, physical and moral reformation are inseparable. Watch for moral improvement improvement as well as physical relief. Why does it happen that an individual may find that he is not getting rid of his sickness, under spiritual treatment? Whenever a person is not healed after a long period of treatment let him search in his own thought for the reason. Jesus said: “I thank thee, O Father, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes.” — MATT. The Master recognized that it was the operation of wisdom that the understanding of the Science of Life should unfold in the simple childlike thought. The “wise and prudent” are they who spend no time contemplating the the wealth of spiritual ideas, but employ their minds in gaining the wisdom and education of material ways and means.
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For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? — MARK. — MARK.
Let a great scholar or financier or lawyer lie at the point of death, will their accumulated knowledge of mathematics, money, law, save them? No. These are as so much “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” God is all that can help a man when he faces his enemy, death. Yet a healing healing word of truth felt and and uttered by some simple, unassuming mind could easily be the means of prolonging the sufferer‟s life. How true it is that a rich man cannot enter enter the kingdom of real living. Our duty is to be rich in love. Love is. is. We learn addition by adding; art by painting; Love by loving. Love cannot be bought by the purse, nor from the without. Love is established within the consciousness of man. Newness of life, regeneration, flows in us in proportion as it flows from us. us . Should we love our father, brother, husband, less because we have started into this new and profitable way of thinking? We have heard it remarked, “I have known Christian Science to separate a family.” It is too sadly true that families have been separated after a member has become a seeker in Christian Science. But let it be remembered that it is a lack of Christian Science which has caused the separation. It is foolish for one to expect that, because he has found the truth and attends the Christian Science services, other members of his family must fall in line. And he is is sadly lacking in spiritual growth and understanding, if he leaves his home because they will not think as he thinks. Christian Science stands stands for better living. living. It makes us love more, not less; it teaches us to be humble, patient, kind, charitable, self-sacrificing. If it is not doing this in our lives lives then we we are not Christian Scientists. Scientists. It is well well to remember, along this line, Jesus‟ words: “And I, if I be lifted up ... will draw all men to me.” me.” The secret of drawing our loved ones into the fold of right living with us, is for us to be lifted lifted up in consciousness. As we show our love and tender good-will toward them, in spite of their attitude toward us, this in due time will prove the one available attraction. Treatment is the realization of the spiritual facts concerning God and man. In reality, in God‟s kingdom, heaven, there is no misunderstanding, no friction. Every idea of God works in love and harmony-with another.
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Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. — MATT. — MATT. I2:50.
Those of us who are loving and serving with the same right spirit the one Mind are truly related in thought. Now what is “the “the will of my m y Father”? Father”? Jesus is our our perfect example. He did the will of his Father; and, as we think the way Jesus thought, speak as he spoke, heal as he heated, are we doing the will will of the Father. Those of us us who are doing in some degree this will, are truly and eternally related. The love for a stranger, who is following with us after the manner the Master taught, is a purer and more perfect love, than the love for one called a sister or brother, who lacks this one eternal bond of fellowship. What What did Jesus believe God‟s‟ will to be, regarding sickness and death ? Did Jesus think they were sent by God? No. Had he believed a man was better off after he died he would not have resuscitated him. He worked to do do away with death. Without sin, sickness, and death, would not this be a very good foundation for heaven right here? Jesus denied the error and affirmed the truth. That is is what we must must do. Jesus said of Lazarus, “He is not dead,” in spite of the fact that he had been in his grave in the earth four days. Denials and affirmations do not change God one iota; but they do put us into harmony with God‟s law. law. Denials tear down and help destroy the hold evil seems to have upon upon us. Affirmations are constructive and build up. Denials purify and cleanse the mind from mistakes, worries, fears. Affirmations give us courage, strength, power. What things soever ye desire ... believe [affirm] that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. — — MARK. MARK.
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To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God [heaven]: but to them that are without, all these things are done in parables. — MARK MARK 4:11.
Jesus taught us the way to understand the mystery about heaven; but “to “to them that are without,” — those — those whose minds are not centred in this scope of vision, — all — all healings and prophecies are incomprehensible. Love and life are intimately associated. Love is the essence of God. It is the mother principle principle which which purifies all who who dwell within its presence. presence . Even human love, when given out of purity, purity, will transform and purify a character. It is because a mother renounces self for her child that her love is glorious and is brought nearer the divine nature of Love. Jesus taught the selfless way. He loved, loved, seek ing ing not his own, but another‟s good. Jesus radiated happiness wherever he went; for he radiated love and truth. He wept at at the grave of his dear friend Lazarus. Why? It was not because he was sorry that he had died. Jesus wept because of the grossness of the minds about him. With all his heart, he yearned yearned to have them understand the the truth about about God. Faithfully, perseveringly, unselfishly, he had laboured with them, and had healed h ealed and regenerated many; yet, now, when he came in their midst, they held but one idea, — Lazarus — Lazarus is dead. Why did they not reach out to him, even yet, for help? Why were they so slow to grasp this truth, — that he who had done so many mighty works could, even now, resuscitate Lazarus? It was because of their manifested manifested lack of spirituality, spirituality, that tears sprung to the Master‟s eyes. Who of us that has entered the path of divine understanding and seeth our brother, our sister, our mother, standing without has not yearned for this dear one to have the spiritual quickening? Yet we cannot do the work of another. Jesus‟ aim was that each would “arise and go to my Father;” then will death cease, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
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The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man which sowed good seed in his field ... But when the blade was sprung up, ... then appeared the tares also ... Didst not thou sow good seed? ... from whence then hath it tares? — MATT. — MATT. I3:24, 26, 27.
The human consciousness reasons thus: If heaven, good, is all, whence then cometh evil? No matter how how real pain, trouble, sin, may may seem to us, it has been demonstrated that they can be utterly wiped out of thought and body through realization of the truth of Being. The belief of the flat earth existed because of the ignorance of the round earth. The belief of disease, sin, limitations, exists because mankind is ignorant of the spiritual, harmonious man. As ignorance is put off and understanding unfolds in the the human human consciousness, heaven becomes a living, present reality, real and tangible now. Ther e are those who listen to the great facts of Life, but they have “stony ground,” and “not much earth.” These are a class of people who feel an inclination to attend a metaphysical lecture or attend a church service or listen to the healing experiences of others. They think the way looks attractive; but they have no depth of earth, — not — not sufficient consciousness of good, to grasp the ideas of Spirit. Spirit. Of course, spiritual ideas cannot take root in minds minds full of materialism. The laying of one or two bricks never made made a mansion. The Bible doesn‟t say, “With a very little bit of endeavour you endeavour you will find Me.” But it does say, “And ye shall … find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” God is present help; but there must be a recognition of this fact, a turning to God with all desire, earnestness, purpose, and love, before God‟s presence will become manifested. An individual may, with enthusiasm, delight in playing cards; in theatre-going; in dinner parties; in reading a vast amount of unprofitable literature; in running around briskly all day and accomplishing little worth while; then, when Sunday arrives, he may seat himself in the first pew of one of the most fashionable churches, and expect he is doing as much as is required of him. Without a fitness for holiness, holiness, can one receive holiness? A great sacrifice sacrifice of material things must necessarily precede spiritual understanding. The question is: How are we spending our thought — thought — our our time?
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Jesus was always about his Father‟s business, — the business of loving, serving, teaching good. So must we be if if we would have God dwell dwell within our hearts. God must become to us the spring of all health, enjoyment, gladness, abundance. It is possible for us to learn of this divine power, and for us to call upon it to sustain, protect, and guide us into the realm of perfect and eternal bliss and peace.
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The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field … when it is grown, it ... becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. — MATT. — MATT. 13: 31, 32.
The seed of the mustard is one of the smallest of seeds; yet, when the seed attains full growth, it has become the greatest of herb trees. There are many many who eschew Christian Science, and believe it to be without value, — the — the least of all the sciences. Yet, let a mortal grasp even a grain of the the spiritual understanding of Life, as taught by Christian Science; let him cultivate and thereby multiply this seed, within his consciousness, and he will soon find that he is being led by the right path into heaven. Right thinking is the key which unlocks the door of heaven; and one enters this realm of glory in proportion as his thoughts objectify themselves in freedom from fear, sin, sickness, and limitations. limitations. While one is going through this process of entering heaven, and good is gaining a permanent place in his consciousness, “the birds of the air” flock to him. him . Humans, desirous of gaining release from suffering, are attracted to him; and, inspired by his faith, they, too, seek the one way of deliverance. It is the blessed privilege of every one of us to receive revelation and inspiration; for we know that the Father is impartial with His love and that heaven is within reach of us all. Let us each - build build on our own own foundation, subject to the one maker, God. Truth cannot be copyrighted. Heaven is free to us all. Mrs. Eddy was an ardent apostle apostle of liberty and equality and believed that for divine Truth there is no ecclesiastical monopoly. God is not only good, but infinite good; not confined to certain places nor to particular individuals. Man has omnipotent good as his Father; the vista of eternal life and abundance of bliss reaches out before him. But we must must let the love of God enter our hearts. Nothing can grow and ripen into its fullness fullness without attention and and cultivation. Merely planting a seed does not insure it fullness of growth. “The seed is the Word of God” of God” and in order to bring forth the harvest, — harvest, — the the perfect man, — man, — we we must give this seed constant attention. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” — PHIL. — PHIL.
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The kingdom of heaven is like to treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. — MATT. — MATT. 13:44.
When we recognize what Truth requires of us, are we willing to sell all our mortal belongings, — part with our erring thoughts, — in order to possess Truth? If not, then are we ready to enter heaven? That is the price we all must pay. We are called upon to give up a quick temper, jealousy, anger, selfrighteousness, if we would would receive the blessings blessings of heaven. We are called upon to give up feelings of annoyance, haste, impatience, vexation, if we would enjoy the wonders of calm, calm, undisturbed mentality. To grow in thought thought and demonstration we must also give up petty narrow-mindedness and put on a broad and truly liberal and progressive view. The only way to have and to hold health is to remove sin in thought and in deed. A sinful man man cannot enter heaven; nor should he, harbouring evil in his thought or manifesting it in his actions within his home, or without, entertain the notion that he can, by repetition of certain spiritual formulas, demonstrate a healthy body. The body is but the objectification of the thought. It is is wrong thinking and acting which quicken or retard the normal action of certain organs of the body. Thoughts are things. Therefore if you want good things things you must have good thoughts. Do not expect miraculous healing without fulfilling the law of right thinking. All permanent healing, all lasting reform, comes about through spiritualization of thought and regenerated living. Now, God does not demand demand that we do all this at once. Nothing in nature grows immediately immediately from a seedling into its full and mature mature being. All plants go through certain processes of growth. So with with man. A baby does not learn to walk firmly and unassisted all at once. He generally learns by degrees and after much endeavour. Spiritual revelation, inspiration, and growth are acquired according to individual readiness and capacity. Only as the little understanding is practised does it become larger understanding. Only as the first bit is used is room made for more of it. All we have to do do in order to have more is to to use what we have. We cannot use what we have without increasing increasing it. It resembles the money money we put into the bank, which draws interest on just what it is, no more, no less . We receive interest, growth, from our good thoughts and actions according to their value. It, therefore, is not the the amount of what we have, but the use of it, which increases its value.
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Use what you have to-day and you will find that you will have more tomorrow. Harvest is the result of your own sowing. How long would a master of music be able to play play with wonderful wonderful dexterity without daily practice? The promise to do good g ood to-morrow to -morrow is no excuse for the performance p erformance of poor work to-day.
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Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. — MATT. — MATT. 18:3.
Until mortals become as yielding and as teachable as the child mind, they cannot comprehend Life, — nor partake of heaven. How true it is that “the first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” When we caught the first glimpse of this wonderful truth about God, did we not immediately think of Mrs. Soand-So? “She is such an earnest Bible student! student ! Surely such an one would gladly welcome this new way of right thinking!” And how surprised and pained we were, when she looked askance at us, u s, and thought we w e were absurd. Why, she had been a student of the Bible for twenty years, and was perfectly satisfied with with her understanding of Life! Often those whom we judge of spiritual advance, are the very last; and the simple unassuming ones, who we judge would not be so receptive, are the the first to welcome these these glad tidings. If we have not become converted, trans-formed or changed from wrong thinking into right thinking; if we are not spiritually alive; if we have not the Christ mind, mind, we are not alive at all. Such is the teaching of the Scripture. In order to be really alive, we must be purified and regenerated. We must must become perfect even as Jesus Christ. Each of us must face this proposition some day for we can never get away from it. The more quickly we get rid of the “carnal mind” the more quickly shall we get alive . “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” God is always a loving Father, but only as man becomes conscious of it through right thinking and understanding does he enter into sonship. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” — ISAIAH. — ISAIAH. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” — REVELATION. — REVELATION.
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The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, c ountry, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods, ... to every man according to his several ability. — MATT. — MATT. 25:14, 15.
He who understands what the law of life requires, yet hides his talent and allows it not to benefit himself or his brother, that servant shall be cast into darkness. Mental darkness and mental suffering overtake the one who yields not his love and obedience to divine Principle. Rise and place the candle where it belongs; not under a bushel, to be of no use, but upon a candlestick, — in its proper place. Man‟s consciousness is like water flowing through a land. If the mouth of the stream is dammed up, the the water settles back and becomes stagnant. No matter how much flood of clear water is let in, you cannot purify the stream until the dam is opened and the impurities are let out. So, no matter matter how much you read, ponder, study, — until you let out the wrong thoughts and feelings, your consciousness cannot become purified. Giving up the wrong, letting in the good, is the one way to advance into the radiance of heaven. Keep an outlet as well as an inlet to your thoughts; give give good as well as receive good; talk good as well as think good; feel good as well as believe good. There is no difference between the demand upon the beginner and the demand upon the the more more experienced. Each must stand upon his his own convictions. All the teachings of Jesus were for the purpose of-I leading man to the consciousness of his oneness with the Father. Father. All real power is in God waiting to be brought into into visibility by our recognition of it and our use of it. Our joy, our health and prosperity, — prosperity, — everything everything about us, is derived from the ideas we hold in thought. Let us then give out this real substance of the heart as though we were stewards of God handing out His inexhaustible supplies. We are all equally entitled to good, heaven, for everything is God‟s and we are His offspring, the sheep of His pasture.
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If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God [heaven] with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. — MARK — MARK 9:47.
Should we be in doubt whether or not we are sinning in a particular thought or deed, let us pause and reason about it. Whenever there seems seems to be a dual of us, one reasoning one way, the other of us in an opposite way, it is more than likely we we are harbouring wrong wrong and serving evil. Doing good never troubles us; never causes us worry or disturbance. When we we are doing right we generally know it; it is when we are not doing right that we begin to question and argue with ourselves. This is a good sign that we are doing wrong; and if we are doing wrong, or if any thought we possess off ends us, no matter how cherishing the possession may may be, let us pluck it out. It is better better for us to have one eye (thought) than to have two (a double thought). When we have done the thing which Truth requires of us, who of us has not felt the calm of sin forgiven? It is only with the single eye that we see heaven. Were we in a great room filled with all the luxuries of this mortal life, and yet, for some reason, did not see and were not conscious of this abundance, of what use would it be to us? None. Heaven with all its presence of joy, glory, wonder, harmonies, and realities is right here; yet, because of the “mist” of matter, we have not beheld it. But there are thousands thousands upon thousands who have entered in some some degree into this millennium. Man is not a separate being possessed of a life which begins, matures, dies, and decays. Man‟s life does not flicker out like a candle . Jesus asked: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?” Nothing can cut man off from his source of life — life — God; God; heaven or reality. “When all shall know the truth of God, When truth shall error leaven, Then all upon this earthly clod Shall find that here is heaven.”
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“And there appeared an angel to him [Jesus] from heaven, strengthening him.” — LUKE. — LUKE.
All of us who have by spiritual realization conquered sin, sickness, and temptation have experienced the visit of an angel. For what is an angel? Is it an apparition apparition with with wings humanly outlined? No. An angel is Truth‟s own voice speaking in in individual consciousness. When we have passed a night in watching and praying, have we not been strengthened as was Jesus? There comes a time in the experience of all of us when we are tested. The author calls calls to mind one never-to-be-forgotten angel visitant. The life of my babe was at a low ebb; and because of the law held over contagious diseases, I was was compelled to call in a physician for diagnosis. It was the opinion of three physicians that the child was afflicted with an epidemic of disease and must must be taken at once to the hospital. Upon my urgent request they granted me from four P.M. until eight A.M. for the healing to be accomplished in Christian Christian Science. Although the babe was being treated by a capable Christian Science practitioner I felt that much depended upon myself at this critical moment. Taking the Bible I entered “the closet,” and “shut the door,” with but one idea, — to have it it out with this belief of evil. And I did. Toward the early hours of the morning, I began to gain a deep realization of the presence of God; but the thought kept recurring to me: “How do you know that you have done enough? How do you know that the babe is healed?” I turned over in my mind the Bible passages where angels visited the patriarchs and talked with them. “Oh, that I might hear the voice of an angel now!” yearned my heart. Then, with sudden inspiration I seized the Bible Bible and opened it. My eyes rested upon words words which seemed to blaze out separate from all the rest: “And the Lord sent his angel, saying, I have heard thy prayer.” Could ever an angel speak plainer than that to human human consciousness? Instantly my my soul responded, “It is finished.” I was strengthened and at peace. peace. Calling up up the practitioner I found that she, too, had realized the healing. In the morning the doctors consented to allow the babe to remain in the home; but under their constant watch. They also installed a trained nurse who examined the child every four hours. The healing healing took place rapidly rapidly and continuously. The temperature temperature dropped seven degrees, to normal. Within less than 48 hours the little little one was pronounced to be in an absolutely normal condition. And this was to their great amazement.
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“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not not come nigh thee.” — PSALMS. — PSALMS.
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A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. — MATT. — MATT. 19:23.
If we depend upon material possessions or money for our happiness we are not on the road to the right understanding of heaven. What does money claim to do for us? Does it not say: I give you you food; I give you you shelter; I give give you raiment? Nay — Nay — even more than this — for — for it says: Without me you cannot live. Surely if we believe believe that mere mere money is the support and maintenance of our existence we we are a long way from heaven. Every material material object is a symbol of reality. Therefore the dollar dollar stands for something — something — there there is a true idea back of it. Money is that idea of God which furnishes all expressions of substance — which supplies us in every way. He who unites his thought of supply with the dollar can hardly enter heaven. Jesus was the wisest man who ever walked among us; he also was the richest. Whatever he desired came immediately into visibility. visibility. Jesus had no houses, no lands. What he had was an abundance of inner riches. He proved for us that outer wealth or material symbols follow naturally the consciousness of inner riches. What did Solomon desire above all things? Wisdom. He asked for the very best gift and because he became rich in ideas he became possessor of great material wealth. “All things that the Father hath are mine.” Abundance is unlimited; it is as free as the air. Jesus when he had only a very little bit with which to feed the multitude gave thanks for it; it; and the little grew into an abundance. Let us bear this in mind; for the attitude of thanksgiving is the foundation for all demonstration. Wealth of consciousness! That is is the secret to to wealth wealth of manifestation. Have you faith that this is true? “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.” It is faith which takes hold of divine d ivine substance and brings it into visibility. Do not limit your supply to certain individuals nor to specific channels; but rather put yourself in touch with the one supreme and universal substance. Whether one is prosperous or not depends altogether upon the ideas he is holding in mind.
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Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. — MATT. 5:48.
The metaphysical interpretations of the Bible contain many wonderful and beautiful meanings hitherto unsuspected. For centuries the Bible was interpreted in a biographical, exoteric, religious sense. Not until Mary Baker Eddy discovered the key to the Scriptures, was it even suspected that the Bible contains a perfect analysis of individual man — and that the Bible offers a perfect plan whereby man may obey the command of the Master and become perfect. For too long, it has been believed that man will become perfect after he reaches heaven; that it is sacrilegious to even intimate that one might become perfect without dying. Now, with the light of o f Christian Science, we know that death does not bring heaven to us, — nor does death take us to heaven. Personal regeneration is necessary before we can gain even a glimpse of reality — heaven. The Bible Bible now becomes something something vital, a bubbling spring of eternal life and love. Historical and personal experiences as given in the Bible Bible show the stages of individual unfoldment. When is the best time to begin to put on this perfection? Now. For the eternal now is the only time. All that has ever been valuable, all all that will ever be worth while, is now. The establishment of perfection of true consciousness rests, not upon the the false sense of time, but upon the the true sense of time. There is a wrong sense of everything; everything; there is a right right sense of everything. The wrong sense of time time is minutes, minutes, hours, days, years. The right sense of time time is the unfolding of spiritual ideas. When we dwell in the wrong sense of time we have destruction, — whitened hair, furrowed cheek, stooped shoulders, and, finally, dead bodies. When we take hold of the true sense of time, time, we take on construction, — we bring into our bodies a renewed sense of life, which springs from thought within us. The lines of our faces are are softened, our eyes blaze with the fire of love burning within us; our bodies are strong and erect. The establishment of the Christ mind within us does not rest upon time in its wrong sense, but depends upon our realization and demonstration of the truth. It is the undue attention to the morrow‟s cares which ofttimes robs to -day of its great opportunities. Jesus said, “Take ... ... no thought for the morrow.” Surely there must be enough enough in each day for us to keep us busy and employed! Let to-day‟s to-day‟s unfoldment meet toto -day‟s need; and give no attention to to -morrow, until it becomes to-day.
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Do we ever get rid of trouble by thinking and brooding over it? The best way to kill trouble is to shut the door doo r immediately upon such thoughts and flood the mind with heaven — real thoughts. Some one has said: “Control your thoughts and the secret of health, happiness, and success is in your grasp.” The attitude of praise and thanksgiving is the foundation for all demonstration. Next to the sunlight of heaven is a cheerful face and a radiant countenance. countenance . It is the bright eye and unclouded face which tell that the thought within is glad and happy. What a wonderful thing it is is to realize that our Father is omnipotent and omnipresent good! That He is is God to us all; that He has provided for us such an inexhaustible supply of abundance that it would be impossible for any of us to lack; that His abundance is as free as the air. “All things that the Father hath are mine.” The Bible says: “Now, is the day of salvation.” “Now, O Lord, thou art our Father.” “Return ye now every one from his evil way [thought].” [thought] .” Now is the time to learn the truth about heaven. Now is the time to understand the Master‟s words, “Be ye perfect.” It is very helpful to spiritual growth to meditate upon the vastness, greatness, and grandeur of God‟s creation. creation. Those of us who are acquainted with some some knowledge of heaven continually see more beauty in every living, growing thing in the universe. For all nature teems teems with praise and and gladness. Through metaphysics metaphysics we learn how to interpret reality. Everything in the material universe universe hints the existence of spiritual reality. Nature is full of beautiful ideas of God. The rose is an idea of love; the lily purity; the violet modesty. The cedar represents strength; the oak hospitality; the olive peace; and how wonderful the expressions of the birds which represent the aspiration and melodies of the soul! The dove is an idea of peace; the the bluebird cheer; the sparrow impulse; the robin love. — love. — We We should think and talk good; think and talk Life and dominion, until we see ourselves filled with the abundance of heaven. This is the absolute way to priceless and eternal salvation, and “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” — REVELATION. Several hundred verses in the Bible tell us to be glad; let the fruit of our lips be continual praise for the unspeakable gifts of Life, Love, and all good, which are truly ours; for all is here now for us to have and enjoy. “In this world of beauty Naught goes really wrong; Every trial or sorrow, 32
Ends somewhere in song. Once to feel earth‟s gladness It is worth the strive; Oh, the joy in God‟s world, Just to be alive!”
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