Too often the kingdom of God is thought of as a place where good people go after death. But this is far from the teaching and legacy of Christ Jesus.
His instructions are clear, for the present, not some future existence: “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on… But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
And where may we find this kingdom? “Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” And finally a reassuring note: “It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
However, a warning: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” Note that the eye of a needle referred to here was a small entrance into the walled city by which the camel can only squeeze through without baggage. The rich man must be willing to give up his baggage, his love of material things, in order to enter into the kingdom of God. This applies to anyone steeped in materialism - love of things.
And finally, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Not pride of achievement, righteousness in the eyes of men, worldly success, but rather “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The following is an inspired, practical application of Jesus' teaching from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy: