Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-07-21

& tain than that Jesus teach
A ings concerning the Chris
SNS4ciN tan life present 1t, and
~F were intended to present 1t,
w. as a thing Of deep and
Astounding Joy. He meant
us to know that religion in itself is a
Joyous experience. Religion is the
normal attitude and exercise of the
spiritual nature. n other words, It ie
spiritual health. AS It is a Joy to be
able to see and to hear the beautiful
things in the natural world, so It is
immeasurably a greater Joy to be able
to hear and see the glad and beautiful
things in the kingdom of God-in the
spiritual world. Religion is immeas;
urably more than the means of secur-
ing future happiness. It is that; but
1t is also happiness and wellbeing now
and here, and all the way along, until
one comes into the full enjoyment Of
the bliss Of heaven.
Jesus did tell us, 1t is true, Of hea-
ven to come. He said, "In my Fathers
house are many mansions" He said,
II go to prepare place for you" But
he also made It very plain that we do
not have to wait till after we die for
heaven to begin with us. Said he,
THE kingdom of God is within you"
II is a present heaven the Christian
enjoys, an inner heaven in the heart.
We need not wait until we die to taste
the Joys of bliss.
The Bible certainly warrants us in
the belief that there is heavenly
place somewhere in the universe, and
that all the faithful shall be gathered
home to that better land. We know
not where it is; we have little idea
what It is. Only we know It is very
blessed. The Bible is full of hints and
suggestions and figurative expressions
in an attempt to give us some concep-
ton OF its infinite blessedness. But
these are only hints and suggestions.
Must Be Blessed Place.
A little heather girl walking out I'M
der the skies one night with her mis-
sionary teacher, who had taught her
of heaven and heavenly things, ex,
claimed as she looked up into the
stars: "Oh, teacher, If the outside Of
heaven is so fair, what must It be to
be there!" So can we say: IF the
suggestions we get, the hints and the
limitations we get concerning heaven
are so enticing, what must it 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 to be enjoyed here and
now.
We have heaven first in the heart
and then in the skies. 1t begins when.
we let the King of the kingdom come.
in. 1t is letting Christ in; 1t is let
ting his will be done in our hearts as
It is now done in heaven. THE kingS
dom of God Is within you" There is
where the kingdom of God is and must
be, or for us that Kingdom is nom
existent. Have we thought of that?
And its Joy must begin now. It does
begin now. For what shall we find.
In heaven that we may not begin to
enjoy now? Is there peace in heaven2
THE peace of God which passeth all
understanding shall keep your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus" It does
that now. Is there joy in heaven?
"Ye rejoice with Joy unspeakable and
full of glory" We may do that now.
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 shed
abroad in our hearts, by the Holy
Ghost which is given unto u.s." We
enjoy that now. Is Christ in heaven?
THAT Christ may dwell in your hearts
by faith" Christ in you the hope
of glory" For the Christian to live
is Christ-Christ with him, Christ for
him, Christ in him here and now. Heav-
en- in the heart first and then in the
skies! "The kingdom of God is with
in you"
Its Joy and Love ls 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
believeth on the Son hath everlasting
life'-has 1t 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 We draw water out of the
wells of salvation-that is get 1t
now and have 1t now. whatsoever
drinketh of the water that shall give
him shall never thirst, but the water
!