Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-08

Christian world as the parallels or the
kingdom
Several of these are given US today,
and a brief survey of them at once re-
veals to us not only Jesus conception OF
the nature of the kingdom. but also OF
the deep significance and vital Importance
Of the spiritual lessons which underly
each story.
The first of these divine allegories Is
1.-THE Parable of the Sower.' In 1t We
see an impartial sower: abundant and
good seed; but several conditions OF soil
and degrees of fruitfulness and unproduc-
tiveness. From it we learn that the seed
Of truth is all good, the love and mercy
Of God impartial. and that responsibility
rests with the soil Of mems hearts.
The second parable explains. as clearly
as 1t can be done for finite minds. the
presence of sin in the world. and the rea-
son for Gods apparent indifference to It's
remaining side by side with the good.
The third allegory pertains to the I'M
portance of gathering Gods harvests
even when we do not understand the
secret or source of it's growth.
Next we have a reference TO the re-
suits that spring from small beginnings.
when there is present the great life pr1n-
chile. and finally thrilling picture OF
the familiar f1sherman's net with It's
"catch" of good and bad marine lile Tne
net gathers all. but the wise nsherman
senarates the good from the bad, saving
the one and discarding the other
From these parallels and those which
are associated with them as paraDies
Of the kingdom" we draw three thoughts
al to ..the nature Of the kingdom which
the Master ever sought to emphasize.
I. IT'S A SPIRITUAL KINGDOM.
There ia SO much that is attractive
about temporal success, and SO much tnat
has been taught as to the relation pc
tween right living and earthly prosperity,
that it is well for US to stop stop 1 that fe
kingdom of God is in no sense materiaL
It was at this very point that israei iost
the way They were WILING enough 70
accept Jesus as their KING. SO iong as ne
and establish athe throne of David, Out
the moment He exclaimed My king .on
IL not of this world His doom is sealeo.
Teachers of youth so often promise, as
the rewards OF faitn ana Ifdenlyi ,ost
thing in the mind Of God. AS far as we
know. Moses never possessed any teHl-
poral wealth. Elijah was fed by ravens.
Elisha lived by the free VIII onerngs OF
and wild honey: while the King him,
self had mot wherein to lay His head
Imagine, If you will, st. Francis trafp-
meled by earthly emOiumeht. or hHoA
or Wesley dying in the possession OF
wealth.
Rich they all were, but it was in treas
ure that was. in heaven. Frequently
men have been rich in both KINGS OF
treasure but they placed the spirtuai
wealth first.
II. TT IS A PROBATIONARY KING
DOM.
Whatever else these allegories may
%bic ono fact stands out at every
turn. The kingdom Of God is "a field"
ar a sssea" or seed" or Heaven" IN
the process of testing as to its value in
fruitfulness or power wen mas .yoD
take; and when He hath tested me
shall come forth as gold.
The separation OF "tares" and wheat"
Of good" fish from bad all point to
a. time when the probation snail De past
and the results shown.
III. TT is AN EXPANDING KINGDOM.
How apt is the expression 1.-The king
dom Of heaven is like unto leaven." All
that is needed in the making Of vast
amounts of s.yeast" is a tiny amount OF
the living cells. and these expand i'm pro-
rortfon to the amount of material with
which they are associated. Thus, the
Kingdom is an expanding Kingdom. 1t
has life. and begets life. There can be
no such condition as Christian pes
simism,,' for every word Of "the King
concerning "the kingdom" is a word OF
inspiring prophecy. The leaven continued
it's work It'll the whole was leavened."
Just in proportion as We are spiritual;
Just In proportion as We make good use
Of our probationary opportunity; just as
we push out In ever widening channels
Of usefulness, will His kingdom come"
Father, we pray Thee to give us the
will and power so to prepare the throne
room for the King that He may dwell
within our hearts, fitting us for His
glory, and using us to His glory, until
Thy kingdom come and Thy will be
DONE on earth as it is done in heaven.