Week 8—Tuesday John 3:12-14, KJV
John 3:12-14, KJV
HEAVEN AND HELL ARE PORTABLE
We are studying how morality is written into the nature of things. And when we make morality and Christianity identical, we do it, not dogmatically, but according to the facts. The highest morality seen on this planet is undoubtedly the life and character and teaching of Jesus and illustrated in his own Person. The adjective Christlike is the highest adjective descriptive of character in any language. So we are not amiss when we make Christ and morality synonymous.
But to continue. John Hay, the great statesman said, “After trying the various ways for nations to get along with each other, I’ve found that the only way for nations to get along is to love your neighbor as you love yourself.” “But, John Hay, that’s Christian.” So, clear from the international, down through the sociological, on to the economic, on into the physical, and then to the moral and spiritual—all up and down the whole gamut of life, the right thing morally, the Christian thing, is the healthy thing in every situation.
A girl was deaf and therefore frustrated and unhappy. I talked to her about surrender of herself to Christ. She did it, and joyously exclaimed, “Oh, surrender, why there is nothing else to do. Why didn’t I see it before?” It was natural. You don’t have to love your neighbor as you love yourself; but if you don’t love your neighbor as you love yourself, you can’t live with your neighbor and you can’t live with yourself. So God has us hooked. You can’t revolt against yourself. If you won’t live with God, you can’t live with yourself. “He who spits against the wind spits in his own face.” Romans 1:27 says, “received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.” The punishment is “in their own persons”—they themselves are the payoff. Again, “God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct” (Rom. 1:28). God gave them up—not to outer punishment, but to the punishment of being that kind of person. The punishment was the person, hence inescapable. You can’t jump out of your own skin. You are your reward or your punishment.
O blessed Redeemer, redeem me from myself. For I am my own heaven and my own hell. Heaven and hell are both portable. Let me carry around within me nothing but you, therefore nothing but heaven. For where you are there is nothing but heaven. I thank you. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I shall wear nothing but heaven in my heart today. The choice is mine.