Evening journal., 1916-02-14

Even at a risk OF reputation II is
essential that we get a clear concep-
tion of the meaning OF the kingdom OF
God. Where is it found? In what
does it consist? Is il confined to a
future life. or is it possible to have
the assurance Of membership in the
eternal kingdom even here and now?
II Is the voluntary acceptance of and
allegiance to the government of God
as revealed in Jesus Christ. When
you go to England or Scotland you
are treading upon the territory Of the
kingdom of Great Britain. II you
cross TO Canada. to Australia or to
South Africa, you still are in the con-
fines Of that kingdom II you stand
on the deck OF an ocean steamer. fly
ing the flag of the Union Jack, even
then you are in the domain Of the
kingdom Of Great Britain. Wherever
King George is acknowledged as ruler
and the British government is re-
garded as supreme, there you will find
the kingdom Of Great Britain Jesus
declared that i'm the kingdom of
heaven God was reality. That is the
reason why it is heaven. IL Is he
cause obedience to Gods will is the
definite settled plan and purpose Of
, its people. The extent OF the king
dom is infinite. both in time and
space. The things OF earth are tenn
porary. Every earthly element pro-
claims its transitory character. The
dividing line between this world and
the next is to the Christian, mat
ter of not the greatest concern. Some
I hntsa fhofrwnf stsf hn worth
dying to have the experience that will
come with the first five minutes after
the soul leaves the body Neyerthe-
less, eternal life is a unity. II en-
? braces both here and the hereafter.
Let the love and will of God reign In
your hearts and you will be in heaven,
whether in America or Africa. wheth-
D er in the physical body or in the
+. spiritual. I believe it was Dante in
his vision OF paradise who depicted
D some Of the former dwellers of the
r earth who had not noticed the lack OF
their physical bodies until their at
y tention was called to it. They hadn't
r missed them.
Jesus taught that the kingdom OF
I God was. primarily. spiritual not ma
terial He said IT comes, not by OBJ
i servation. II is primarily within. II
is not Of this world. although il car
d be within the world This earth is
t not untitled physically to be annexed
+ 10 heaven. The great hindrance thai
prevents such a glorious consumma
ton is its inhabitants disloyalty Il
II God In a peculiar sense the king
e dom OF God became a reality OF
J. earth with the coming OF Jesus. A
y the outset OF His ministry He pro
L. claimed that the kingdom was a
e hand II was something real, present
q obtainable. and accessible. AS tn
: coming of the general upon the bat
tlefeld. in the midst OF an engage
ment. so il was the coming of Chris
"a that breathed life and vigor and real
ity into the truth OF the kingdom. Tn
e. kingdom centers about the King. Tn
D. Jews considered kingship a matter o
" rank and wealth and display In fac
Ip this was the universal conception
But Christ endeavored to instill int
ID their minds that true kingliness wa
ie a matter of the inner life. The pee
Id pie tried to take Jesus by force an
ne crown him king. But he entered int
he a desert place. Solitude is the mott
be er country Of the strong. Jesus tol
he PLATE that His kingdom was not
be this world 1t did not consist
er armies and palaces, robes and crown
rb Robes become moth-eaten. palace
SIS crumble and decay, but the royali
n of the spirit is eternal It is nC
he ushered in with gorgeous procession
coronation festivals and the blare ,
d. trumpets. The kingdom OF heaven
is. like leaven hidden into the meal,
ed works silently but irresistably. W
nd come now to the great longing an
er purpose so clearly manifested in th
is mind of Christ. the enlargement an
be development of the eternal kingdom
n This must be considered in its two
be fold aspect. destructive and COZ
Sc structive; destructive of evil and col
n structive OF Righteousness. Favorab
~ conditions have much to do with Z;
e. vorable growth The promotion
e. the kingdom is the most sublime an
e extensive purpose to which the HI
g man energies can be devoted. III
ed task, first of ALL is the eradication {
ls those agencies which hinder the con
a ing OF the kingdom.
en- Picture to yourself a world fr,
g from the hlighting effects OF vice
crime and sin. Even from the final
70 cial standpoint. evil is the most G,
ip' pensive luxury conceivable. III
le' overthrow of vice would mean q
g abolition Of poverty and the suppl
ne ing Of comfort and plenty for a
!. No more the loss of two billions
ny dollars annually worse than vast,
ur on intoxicating liquors. and as mu,
an more on the social evil. II wou
II mean the abolition OF war. No mo
m standing armies or navies with Il
le- vast sums expended on equipme
y and forts and arsenals. The cost
scl one battleship would build a macada
IS road from New York TO Chicago.
at two congressional Libraries. II wou
on build forty Y NJ. c. A. buildings
equip fifty manual training schoc
ne for seventy-five thousand young pc
ISL pie. The increased expenditure {
" preparation for war by our country
ne the last eight years would build thr
no Panama Canals, would replant fift
70 six million acres Of forest land. a
no the annual interest at per Gel
-he would give an annual income forey
ice of a thousand dollars to forty-tv
OF thousand families The upkeep Of o
es battleship, 100000 per year. that
ear good for only twenty years. and th
nj the junk heap. costs in the aggregs
'as twenty-eight million dollars. TIL
me would build fourteen hundr