The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-28
VIEWS OF LAYMEN

No race of man Is found who has
not in some form or other a belief
il a Supreme Being TO be worshipped
of future life largely depending up
on the character possessed on earth,
and that the future abode of the so
called just is in heaven, possessed
Of conditions capable of producing
perfect happiness.
The christian world believes that
a locality lot known by man. Heaven
is represented by Christ as house
Of many mansions, and that His de-
parture, was to prepare that place
for His followers who were to dwell,
with Him forever. Heaven is also
called in the scriptures as "A city
that hath foundations, Holy city"
Paradise" Garden OF the Lord
Garden Of Cod" all Of which are
proofs from the greatest authority
that heaven occupies a permanent
position in space.
To the limit of the most powerful
telescope, space is found to be peo-
pied with various orbs, in a degree
similar to those known in orr own
PLANETARY system. which justifies the
belief that similar conditions exist
through limitlesS space.
Civilized man, next to belief in
1Ou dIlu
tive desire for exploring what ne
knows or relieves may exist beyond
him, whether it be unknown portions
of our own globe or with the astron-
offer, penetrating farther and farther
into the- abyss of space. With these
known facts, is It not reasonable to
believe that redeemed souls in >hea
ven. with UNNECESSARILY increased in
telligence, not Handicapped by physi-
cal bodies, will not only have much
greater ambition to explore Gods
bodies, will be fully euuipt to carry
out landable ambition with Divine sane
ton, also that in the future life, we
may be employed by God as angels
are, who traverse space carrying out
Divine commissions.
! Taking as a textual stand point,
Rev. 21 25, "The gates Of it shall
not be shut at all by day, we may
well conclude that through those open
to and fro at Gods bidding and their
own will
We also read from the same in.
spireI book, "They shall bring the
glory and honor>of the nations into it"
so being thus admitted, we cannot
believe they are to remain without
liberty, latitude, range beyond its
confines. Redeemed souls after called
to their eternal home, are not to be
considered as immuned there, but as
servants of God go at His bidding TO
any sart of His broad domain, as
evangles of love and nj .rcy.
After Christ left this world We
have records of his return Paul is
recorded as meeting Jesus when on
his way to Damascus, who said to
him. 81 am Jesus whom thou per
secutist",' again when in prison the
Lord stood by him and said, be CT
TRANSPORTATION there appeared unto
them (the disciples) Moses and Elias
talking with Him. direct to from the
other world, approxidIy 1900 years
We have no evidence in scripture
that after reaching Heaven, we can
never leave the Holy City. which IS
but the capitol Of Gods Universe. If
Angels are not confined to their
eternal home, but are privileged
shall not redeemed man, stated in
scripture as higher than they, be de-
not be that we can see the wonders
prived of similar privileges. 1t can
of creation, our Fathers handiwork,
stretching out, in great distances,
wonderful, grand, instructive and not
permitted to approach them. 1t is
unthmkable that we are limited but
to the parapets of the Holy City.
looking out upon everlasting range Of
Gods creation, but be forbidden to
explore them which to do would be
lessens of eternal worth. We find no
utterance of God no everlasting de-
NAL on His part to quench the glor %
Ious aspirations of intellect, to para
lie a desire to investigate, to learc.
With increased philosophical and
scientific knowledge, with a faith
we'll founded on the great fundapen
tails revealed in sacred writ, 1t Is but
natural desire would be developed
to know more of immeasurably dis
tant realms of space, replete with
the works of our heavenly Father
we will not forget that man Is a
child of God, who is present every
where, brother OF our Saviour
Christ, who journeys every whither a
pupil Of the Holy Christ, who is ON
nipresent, so from our Divine par
entage. we justly inherit these as
Ipirati ions. Rev. ]. M. Balm. i