Heaven in Your Heart

Who has the Son has life. 1 John 5:12 NIV

As soon as God takes unto Himself His mighty power and sets up His throne in a heart, it is instantly filled with righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. This is, in a degree, heaven within the soul. Whoever experiences this can assuredly say before angels and men:

Everlasting life is won;

Glory is on earth begun.

This agrees with the constant meaning of Scripture, which bears record that God “has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son [reigning in his heart] has life,” even life everlasting (1 John 5:11). And life eternal is to “know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

Those to whom this is given may confidently address God, though in the midst of a fiery furnace,

Where Thy presence is display’d is heaven.

And this Kingdom of God, or of heaven, “is at hand,” is near. As originally spoken, whose words implied that “the time” was then fulfilled. God was “made manifest in the flesh,” and He would set up his kingdom among men and reign in the hearts of His people. Wherever the gospel of Christ is preached, His kingdom is near, not far from everyone. You may this very hour enter in, if you will pay attention to his voice: Repent and believe in the Gospel.