West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-26
THE HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM.

tue cnect tnat. ficncS are unfavoraDlc as
respects saintship Our Lord said in this
connection. s.For il is easier for a camel TO
60 through needles eye than for a rich
man to enter the Kingdom. One of the
other gospels records that when the young
man went away the deciples said to Jesus,
"Lord, who then can be saved 2"
We are to remember that the deciples did
not understand the nature of the Kingdom
at that time nor until after the Holy Spirit
was given at Pen,ecos,. They, with all
other Jews, had been expecting Messiah aud
as they said themselves, 1--WE had hoped
that this Uesus) had been lie which would
have restored the Kingdom to Israel" They
saw that all the notable persons in the King
dom then existing were the wealthy class.
This is illustrated when we read of the s'rich
casting their gifts ip,o the Temple treasures"
and that '1he seribes aud pharisees were
money lovers" Everything goes TO show
that the poorer class was under estimated.
The poor, the publicans aud the sinners
were supposed to he under divine disfavor
and the prominent ones chiefly in Gods
favor. The Apostles, who were of the
humbler class, were astonished TO see that
the more prominept, and wealthy ones were
not accepting Christ who seemed to them
the very picture of the prophecies and so
when our Lord spoke the words OF our text
it seemed to overthrow all their expectations.
II all these m power and influence be re-
jected s'who can be saved ~ Where then
is the Kingdom TO come : How will there
be any Kingdom They thought the rulers
would come TO recognize the Messiah but
now when a rich man came TO him he was
not given prominent seat aud told that his
presence would attract some more of the
great ones.
The time for understanding had not yet
come but after Pentacost under the enlight-
eminent and Instruction Of the Holy Spirit
we see how God is taking out people that
shall be of this kingdom class and tina.
through this class all the promises and
prophets shall be fulfilled. All the families
of the earth shall be blessed and this shall
be the great kingdom. Yet not many great
nor many noble shall be in this kingdom
but chiefly the poor of this world, rich in
faith. Heirs Of the kingdom which God
has promised to those that love Him.
In harmony with this is the statement, at
is easier for camel to 90 through needles
eye than for rich man to cutter the king
the affairs OF Israel were of the Lords
supervision aud typical of things pertaining
to spiritual Israel. II any camel came at
night TO the city when the gates were shu,
the traveller must unladen II IN order 10
enter by one of the small gates. called
''needle's eye" so small that they could be
guarded by one man yet through which a
camel might crawl after his load was taken
off.
The present time is the night time of the
gospel age. There is no entrance into the
New Jerusalem except the straight and
narrow way and STEW there be that find
It" All the riches must be removed aud
the attitude must be humble. But by and
by when the morning comes. as in the typi-
cal Jerusalem, the gates will be opened,
''ihey shall not be shut by day at all and
there shall be no night there" And The
kings of the earth shall bring their glory and
honor into it. Not through the needles
eye but through the broad open gates into
the grand highway that leads up to perfect
humanity, Gods jewel of organic life.
Nothing shall enter therein that defiieih,
nor he that loveth or maketh lie, outside
are thesabominable."
But the present time is the marrow way
made difficult by the opposition of the world
the flesh and the devil These conditions
hedge the way that leads to life eternal and
to harmony with the Lord aud His arrange
menis. a difficult way as our Lord de-
clared. ''Sell all that thou hast and give to
the poor and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven and come follow me-" Does this
mean to become pauper 2 Are these the
terms and conditions upon which we can
become the Lords deciples3 And IL these
were the terms upon which this young man
might have place in the Lords following,
have the conditions changed or is il still
incumbent that we sell all we have and dis
tribute to the poor and follow the Lord !
This is heavy test. What did the Lord
mean The answer is found under the in
struciions after the spirit was given and Il
the young man had answered, 81 accept
your terms, l am yours, all have goes.
How shall proceed with the matter ? 7"
The reply would have been in effect thus
'frhat is the point wished to bring YOU
to. where you would be ready TO surrender
all. You have given all TO me. You have
given ALTO God You are steward nov
of these things and responsible for the
things under your control to Him to whose
service you are committed. Use them
freely, not as though you were giving some
thing, for you have given them already. They
are the Lords, use them as a steward would
use bis masters money or property IN service
be believes his master would have hiss use
d in. Present your bodies living sacrihce
holy, acceptable, which IS your reasonable
service. II was an Offering far too small
But We are glad the Lord accepts our little
Offering. not for Us worth, but in the name
aud merit Of Him who loved as and bought
as with his precious blood
But there are other riches beside money,
20 that whatever you may be or have,
talents, opportunities, riches, influence,
much or little. When you came to the
Lord you gave al to Him. There is no
other way, this is The time Of the needles
eye entrance, the time when no packs on
loads can be taken into The New Jerusalem,
the time the kings are entering in, those
that shall be kings and priests unto God
joint heirs with Jesus Christ their lord. q