Evening journal., 1916-02-14

all expected there would be a duel. !
Time went on and he returned among
his fellow officers. None could under
stand why he did not resent the in
suit and send a challenge. for they
knew him to be a man of great cour-
age. Finally the truth became known.
This was the secret: Immediately
after the blow was struck. he rushed
TO the emperor's palace. and by his
exceeding importantly he was per-
mitted to enter the presence OF the
czar He told the story of the insult
and begged that he might be allowed
TO wipe out the disgrace by a duel.
The car refused Then he pleaded
that he might be banished to Siberia.
mo. come with me-" said the czar. 81
have something better for you" TAX
ing his arm, the emperor led him into
a great hall where were gathered the
highest royal personages OF all Rus
SLAMS. II was a privilege he had
never before enjoyed. Then before
the entire company the czar told the
story, and how he had refused the Of
ficers request. But" said the en-
peror. Il have something better for
him. Putting his arm about him. up
on the cheek that had been slapped,
the emperor imprinted a kiss. This -
said the car. more than wipes out
the STAIN" Grander than all the
beauty and glory of the heavenly en-
vironment will be the constantly in
creasing inspiration and JOY Of the
favor and fellowship of the King
Himself.
Let us in the next place consider
some of the essentials for citizenship
/ in, the kingdom Of God. Jesus made
these very emphatic and explicit. He
constantly reiterated that citizenship
was not a natural possession that
came with physical birth, but some
thing that must be voluntarily ac-
quired. The basis OF membership in
the kingdom is not nativity but nat
uralization. You may be a subject OF
the kingdom and yet not be a citizen
Of the kingdom. The claim TO inherit
ance is not through generation. but
through regeneration. To the very
highest type OF a moral. cultured hui
man being. Jesus said: Except a
man be born from above he cannot
see the kingdom Of God. The Christ
tian life, then, is not an imitation. il
is an incorporation. II is primarily
not material. but spiritual. Flesh and
blood cannot inherit it. II is not
meat and drink, but joy and right
eousness and peace in the Holy
Spirit
, Furthermore, Jesus explained that
a requirement for entrance into the
kingdom of Goo was humility. teach
ableness and simplicity, II does moi
belong to the proud, the opinionated
and the self-willed. Except man b,
converted and become as a little chile
he shall in no sense enter the king
dom of God. The world says, BE q
, man." but God says. BE a child"
Again, there must be sincerity an,
earnestness OF purpose in seeking
place and part in the divine empire
The kingdom Of God suffereth VIC
lence. and the violent take it b!
force" There must be a breaking ul
} of the hard soil of conservatism,
! rending of the rocks Of prejudice an
! the carving OF a path through thu
dense forests OF ignorance. evil an
T indifference, before you can reach tn
: royal gate Jesus taught that th
s candidate for citizenship must b
q dead in earnest. In answer to th
r question: Are there few to b
= saved?" He replied: Strive TO ente
o in at the straight gate" That yer
e has a strength impossible TO expires
n in our language. II implies a strain
n ing Of every faculty and power TO th
. limit Anything less spells defeat.
h Furthermore, as requisite for ad
\ mission there must be righteousness
! Except your righteousness excee
: the righteousness of the scribes an
pharisees We can in no case ente
a into the kingdom Of God" Thi
righteousness, He declared. must b
4 more than mere correctness OF con
Y duct in outward bearing. II must b
, a genuine sincerity in motive. purpos
: and desire. His severest arraigr
Z ments were against the superficial
s precise. He called them "whited sc
n pulchers." It is here we see the nc
Y cessity for forgiveness OF sin as a pre-
9 requisite for admission into the kinf
: dom. A removal OF the debt incurre
a by past transgressions is essential
that the candidate may enter with
- clear record. The crucifed and rise
h Son of God is the door into the kinl
!. dom.
) Again there must be obedience
v God as an essential for citizenshi
l. Not every one that saith unto m
q Lord. Lord. shall enter into the kim
IS dom Of heaven but he that doeth tt
"a will OF My Father who is in heaven
, Eligibility for admission comes I
a declaring allegiance to the King. yoi
! will yielded TO His will. This is a
3 active, not a passive operation.
r does not mean a destroyed or an il
l. operative will. but a will active. d
n cisive. persistent purposeful.
4 means n will backed by an intelle
IS convinced OF the truth that Christ
~ plan Of life is the best. and for thI
ar reason gladly enters into cooperate
a with His plans and program.
al Lastly a test OF citizenship in Il
. kingdom is a spirit OF service. Chri
m taught. as recorded in the twent,
A fifth chapter OF Matthew that Il
~ welcome is given only to those wi
pr have shown their love and loyalty
a the King by acts OF kindness al
NJ helpfulness to His subjects. At Il
40 outset of His ministry the eviden
ie that Jesus gave to the disciples
10 John that He was the promised Me
siah was that the lame walk. the de
N hear, the blind receive their sigl
rs and to the poor the gospel W
o. preached. He taught that in 4
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