Oxford eagle., 1910-07-21


al we're Intended 20 present It.
O as thing Of deep and
abounding Joy. He meant
as 70 know that religion IN itself Il a
I Joyous experience. Religion Is the
normal attitude and exercise Of the
I spiritual nature n other words. II is
spiritual health As u is a ioy TO be
able to see and TO hear the beautiful
things in the natural world. 50 Z, is
lnmeasursbly a greater Joy to be able
to hear and see the glad and beautiful
things In the kingdom Of God-in the
I spiritual world Religion Is imneaA
urahly more than the means Of secur-
ing future happiness I, Is that: but
Il Is also happiness and welIbelnx nov
and here. and all the way along. until
one comes into the full enjoyment OF
the bliss Of heaven
fesus did tell us. Il Is true. u hea-
ven 70 come. He said. In ny Fathers
house are many mansions He said.
I 20 70 prepare a place for you But
be also made Il very plain tha; ne do
not have to wait TIL after ve die for
heaven to begin With Us said be.
The kingdom Of Got Is within you
Il is present heaven the Christian
enjoys. an inner heaven in the heart
We need not vait until ve die to taste
the Joys Of bliss.
The Bible certainly warrants Us n
the belief that there is a heavenly
place somewhere in the universe. and
that all the faithful shall be gathered
home to that better land. We know
not where Il is: We have little idea
what Il Is. Only ne know Il Is veyy
blessed The Bible Is full Of hints and
suggestions and hrurative expressions
IN an attempt 70 give Us some conceP
ton Of its infinite blessedness- But
these are only hints and suggestions.
Must He Blessed Place.
A little heather gfri walking out IN
der the skies one night vith her mis-
siorary teacher. who had taught her
Of heaven and heavenly things. er-
claimed as she locked up into the
stars: oh. teacher. II The outside os
heaven Is so fair. what must Il Be 10
be there So can We say: II the
suggestions ne get. the hints and the
limitations ne get concerning heaven
are so endeing. VIA, must II be to BE
there-~
But. let Us remember that this Is
not the only heaven. There Is an in
ner heaven IN the heart There Is a
present heaven 10 be enjoyed here and
now
We have heaven first IN the heart
ard then in the skies Il begins when
re let the King Of the kingdom come
IN Il is letting Christ in: Il Is let
ting his Will be done in cur hearts As
Il is TOW done IN heaven The king
don of God IS within you There is
where the kingdom Of God Is and must
Be. or for Us that Kingdom Is non
existent Have we thought Of that.
And its Joy must begin nov. Il does
begin now. For what shall we fnd
in heaven that We may not begin TO
entoy now Is there peace In heayenr
The peace Of God which passeth all
understanding shall keep your hearts
and minds IN Christ Jesus II does
that now. Is there JOY in heaven,
-Te rejoice with JOY unspeakable and
fall of glory We may do that nov.
Is there righteousness IN heaven,
The righteousness Of the law is full
filed in Us. who walk not after the
flesh. but after the Spirit We have
that, in Christ. now. Is there love
IN heaven The love Of God Is she'd
abroad in our hearts, By the Holy
Ghost which IS given unto US We
enjoy that nov. Is Christ in heaven,
That Christ may dwell in your hearts
by faith Christ in yen the hope
OF glory" For the Christian to live
IS Christ-Christ with him. Christ for
him. Christ in him here and nov. Heav-
en- IN the heart first and then in the
skies, The kingdom Of God Is with
in you
Its Joy and Love Is Within
Within. How full the Scriptures
are Of the thought Of this inner king
dom and its blessedness, The king
dom Of God Is within you He that
belieyeth on the Son hath everlasting
hfe"-has It now and here. This
is life eternal. that they may know
thee. the only true God. and Jesus
Christ whom thou hast sent With
Joy shall ye draw water out Of the
wells Of salvation-that Is get II
now and have IL now. -whosoever
drinketh OF the water that shall give
him shall never thirst, but the water
that shall give him shall be in him
3 well Of water springing up into ever
lasting life" Christ In you the hope
Of giory"-the maker Of present heav-
en- in your heart The kingdom Of
God Is within you The sinlessness
OF the kingdom Is to be found within
The peace OF the kingom is TO be
found within The love Of the king
dom Is to be found within The salts
faction Of heaven Is 10 be found With
IN The joy Of the kingdom Is TO Be
found within
Il has beautifully been said that
the opening Of the streets Of heaven
are on earth" Eternal life in heaven
is plainly but a continuation and a de-
velopment Of eternal life on earth
blessed are the pure In heart, for
they shall see Cod They see him now
and here The man who finds not God
In his own heart Will fnd him no.
where: but he Who does find hin, there
Will find him everywhere: and for him
heaven will be begun
The great test Is. can vs bear ths