Spiritual Passport

March 08 by Eddie Cox

Have you ever been expected to show your spiritual identification, your spiritual substance, when you are traveling somewhere? Probably not, but what if you did? What would be on your passport? What identifies you spiritually? This is the introduction video for the Question of the week: What is Substance? And how does it help us get to the "Kingdom of Heaven?" Please share your thoughts, questions and answers.

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  • Diane
    said on March 08 at 10:58…

    One of the ways I like to think about substance is as the "essence" or the "isness" of everything I perceive, think, feel, hope, have faith in--all going back to God, the one Creator, Mind. In Christian Science study and practice, we know that matter has no meaning. The meaning of everything--from the color of green, to the flavor of a banana, to the love for my dog, to the fun of playing tennis, to the satisfaction of working out a math problem, to the beauty of a poem, to the warmth of an extended hand in time of need--finds its "isness", its substance, its meaning, in God. Thinking of experience (life) in this way, makes Jesus' commandment to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind: and your neighbor as yourself" practically understood and enjoyed (Luke 10: 27).

  • Susie
    said on March 08 at 11:19…

    Knowing what substance is helps me realize that the kingdom of heaven is right here, right now. It's not only for a select few, I don't have to go somewhere else or do something special to get there. The kingdom of heaven is spiritual and it is seen and felt spiritually--that's our ticket to it! And, that's why it is "at hand" like both John the Baptist and Jesus said.

  • Matthew
    said on March 08 at 12:16…

    When I think of Substance, I try to think about stuff that I know will last and endure-not about things which will only be around for a little while. I know that if I am focused on seeing the spiritual truth in everyone and everything that comes into my experience, I can hold onto these right ideas and take them with me everywhere I go. If I am holding onto a lot of possessions or things that are material in nature, it makes it a lot harder for me to be quick and nimble in my thinking and it means I'm carrying a lot of stuff. Its pretty hard to get into the Kingdom of Heaven with a lot of baggage-and tough to go through life this way too!

  • Pauline
    said on March 08 at 16:13…

    Your true nature,your individuality,whatever your truly conscious of, as a child of God,goods goodness.

    Seeing only the goodness that is always/only there in the real universe the information,promise reason & revelation of goodness, mercy, justice etc.

  • Sheila
    said on March 08 at 17:47…

    Loved yur video guys! My answer is: substance is the knowledge that we're spiritual; we're ideas; we're sons and daughters of GOD. And because we're ideas, we live in the kingdom; not only do we have access to all-good, we're made of all-good.

  • Joy M.
    said on March 08 at 19:19…

    Thank you Victor and Ricky for your thoughtful presentation. Substance for me is understanding what God is conscious of, aligning my thought with that and in doing that I'm discovering I have a choice about what conscious state of thinking that I want to be living in. I can choose to think of everything as mortal and material, good and bad, happy and sad, which I have believed in th past as being substancial. Or I can choose to live in the under-standing or sub-stance of God's perfect spiritual limitless knowing. This is the Consciousness of the kingdom of heaven,- well it feels like you are in this heavenly state of Mind, because you feel so loved, assured, safe and certain that all is well, and having such a sense of compassion for all mankind [the Christ consciousness that Jesus expressed and that we each have within us which is "the Godliness that animates us" [as Mrs Eddy stated] to know and do good]. I've found in my own experience that nothing else gives me the sense of happiness and understanding that this state of mind gives me, and it never fails to heal.

  • Denny Colliver
    said on March 09 at 17:10…

    Your substance is your spirituality - your strong sense of (and trust in) God's ever-present power, strength,abundant provision, ability, alertness, balance, security and protection, wisdom, intelligence, alertness, vision, perception, understanding, health, mercy, happiness, law,justice, purity,completeness, and any other attributes you can add to the list.

    When you are really positive that God is the source of all the good in yout life. rather than yourself being responsible for it, then you ARE in the Kingdom of Heaven.

  • janet Jones
    said on March 10 at 01:52…

    "stuff" is old slang for, guess what, substance. So, actually, you are made of Mind stuff.

  • Solomon Workar
    said on March 11 at 11:15…

    We need some sunday school materials in Liberia

  • Joy Hinman
    said on March 11 at 22:01…

    Good questions! Substance has to be the REAL stuff, which lasts for ever and can't be worn out, or destroyed. It isn't matter, even if it looks like it. God is substance. God's creation is the substance of ideas. God is at home in His Kingdom. All the time. Where God is, His children are there with God (So does this mean we have to go someplace to get to the Kingdom of Heaven? or are we already there?) What about us? Jesus said "The kingdom of God is within you." Science & Health says it is "within consciousness" So, it's good to have the ticket -- but it is not a free ride. Look at the fine print, which outlines the requirements to be on this trip to the Kingdom.... Starts with the 10 Commandments. What's next? You printed the ticket, so you know what's on it!

    I liked your video a lot! Really nicely done guys! Joy

  • Nan
    said on March 12 at 07:58…

    QuestionS

    How does substance manifest itself in our lives in practical ways? What takes it beyond reasoning and makes it appear? Where is it, how do I see it, and all of the other great things about the spiritual senses in relation to my substance? Tks!

  • Renee B. A.
    said on March 12 at 10:39…

    Substance to me is the idea behind a "thing." Such as a tree. I have a very large pine tree outside my office and when I look at it I think of its substance as representing Life: permanency, steadfastness, beauty, evergreen, fullness and so on. When we look at things in their true substance we see their reality as ideas that are forever and to me this is the kingdom of heaven. If we see ourselves as ideas, spiritual and that the true substance of being is all that is good, wholeness, perfection, spirituality, intelligence, integrity, joy, beauty and so on this is true substance so everything has value because it is an idea of God. Seeing our true substance as ideas, spiritual and perfect we realize our indestructibility and the infinite possibilities and that is our passport to the Kingdom of Heaven! Thanks so much for your video!

  • Chidinma Vincent
    said on March 12 at 15:30…

    Substance is the evidence of things unseen. An example is Love.

  • Nancy
    said on March 12 at 22:58…

    Substance is God, Life, Truth, Love. Man and the universe reflect It, include It, are It's presence. As we un-self, namely, get rid of the belief that we are separate little struggling selfs, and commune with Life we find that Life is the I am, the only Self. We can of our own selves do nothing. Yet, as reflection we are the evidence of All-in-all including all right ideas (pg475 def of man). The widow undervaled her oil, (see glossary definition) because she was absorbed in her self, troubles, fears. Responding to the Christ she expanded what was in her house, consciousness, and the oil flowed, spiritually and humanly tangibly. There is no getting to the Kingdom of Heaven. According to Jesus, it is within us (see Glossary def of kingdom of heaven). Showers of blessings flow from Substance as Substance to Itself, manifestation. Feel it and listen for the angels direction.

  • Chas
    said on March 13 at 13:11…

    Substance is what really matters to people. What people want is to express spiritual love, and feel loved by others and by God. When I was walking home, I thought about "the kingdom of heaven," and I thought that the beautiful trees, bare and peaceful, hint at our Father-Mother, Love's Kingdom of Heaven right here and everywhere.

  • Tony in Alpharetta
    said on March 13 at 20:09…

    Substance is not matter, muscle, brains or blood. It is God, Spirit. Substance is our true self or identity. You could say substance is SOUL. The collection of ideas and traits that never weaken or need repair.


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