The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-12-19
n. Kingdom of Heaven
!. Hearts of Men

W bs
or pecember 26, review
lNso'i lessons of late have been
gu, concerning the kingdom of
nanlg we are taught In many
heaV'nn That II IL like, for the Bible
Nsye everywhere used freely OF
wrHe,,ison with well known OBJ
! c1nI,o demonstrate something that
~.n ~ understanding otherwise
hdni,ss Nnd difficulty In comprehend
Wou'u u'u,d the Savior was fond OF this
ing, si system Of parallels These
or.Sias are useful even to us to-
pala'yet yet we should not make the
dH 10 OF being too literal In our
mF,,,,g of these pieces OF imagery.
Isau"s "ss,ade things very clear to the
lpg al mind, for they were used
oh., h.n,s habit OF thought from youth
10 'a nd II was no puzzle to them;
sp, w nnr occidental habit OF mind IL
e' natter of fact that, we expect
S.r,fhing to be told us in Just so
e,y main words. and we often
n'a .a,in aver the meaning OF the
s,chts Of imagery that we encounter
a. The scriptures. Right here some
mons soul will hold up his hands
y norror. He has consoled himself
nt,h inc belief that the Bible always
'.nsans lust what 1t says and to
.,sgost 10 him otherwise IL either
80 arouse his antagonism or set him
I'D upou q sea of uncertainty.
f.ioubtedly the Bible does mean
.Es, n saws. but to know that
na,ins We must not only read the
Ids but comprehend them. CIV
,,n dne allowance for inaccuracies
~ Translation from a dead language
and The changes that time has
b,ought In our own.
reform Begins Mt Home.
The Kingdom OF heaven is not an
.,r,hly organization. II oxists In
,Se hearts OF Gods children and is
no, a political or geographical en-
,itv II is a kingdom of the spirit
.na not Of the world. To encourage
rs growth therefore Is not n matter
AZ seeking to enforce its mandates
anon our fellow beings against
tbelr will, but OF seeking to purify
our own hearts and make thepn fit
ysbitstions for the Holy spirit. II
sacb OF us will see after getting
simseIf right with God, the big
g,st part Of the battle will have been
w. The day when every knee
sb,Il bow to the name of Jesus will
moi be brought about by legislative
enactment, but Is accomplished by
Individual conservation. We are not
Authorized to pass judgment on our
fellow men. We can safely leave
that matter to be settled between
,he man and his God. But we are
negligent Of our duty u we do not
order our own com.ngs and goings
By the teachings OF his holy word,
living not only a life tending more
and more toward Righteousness, but
telling everybody of the blessings OF
the gospel.
Revolution From within.
The beginnings OF the kingdom OF
heaven were small. and we are apt
to make the same mistake that fell
low townsmen Of Jesus made when
they could not see why there should
be anything extraordinary abou.
him. The Kingdom is made up of
elements so familiar that we fail TO
recognize their universal signifl-
cance. The Son Of God, who came
into this world to establish that
kingdom, came not with a blare OF
trampets and a demonstration OF
pomp, but as helpless baby. He
b distinguished not by beauty or
vast powers of destruction. but by
Spiritual perfection and vast powers
for construction. He teaches that
the world will be transformed not by
government or mighty convulsions,
bu, by the gradual process OF
growth, silent and resistless. little
BY little, until the whole IL revolu-
.iOnized from within.
Voluntarily Doing Good.
Christianity has large ideals.
hopes and plans. Jesus taught US
to pray Thy kingdom come" This
kingdom comes among men when
Gods will is done here as in heaven.
1t is not accomplished by securing
universal, hut grudging. obedience
10 his institutions nor by making
obligatory the observances which are
Characteristic of righteousness. Ev-
cry man must yield his heart to
God, and until that Is done he is
not of the kingdom. We cannot
make him do that. and to prescribe
,ha, he shall put on the appearance
Of pety when he has none is to
create hypocrisy. 1t is implanted
IN the human bosom to resist doing
that which the law makes compul-
sory. Most men take delight in do
ing good voluntarily, hut few there
be Who will follow Righteousness