Have you perhaps wondered regarding your own hope:
Am I of the Anointed?



Jehovah created man with the desire to live on this beautiful earth that he has provided as a home, and to enjoy forever all that it has to offer, in perfect health and peace. (Gen. 1:26-31) King Solomon wrote: "Everything he has made pretty in its time. Even time indefinite he has put in their heart, that mankind may never find out the work that the [true] God has made from the start to the finish." (Eccl. 3:11)

Do you enjoy a walk in the forest; listening to the birds singing; or strolling in a meadow while delighting in the scent and beauty of the abundant variety of flowers; to run along a beach with the waves lapping at your feet, and feel the refreshing breeze gently caressing your face? Are you a loving parent who treasures the joy of raising children, and then watch your children apply in their lives the guidance you provided as they start their own family, and raise their own children—your grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Do you also desire to have your own house, plant your own garden, and grow your own food; while enjoying the association of family, relatives, and friends? These desires and joys are normal, and are among the many things that our Creator has promised to those who love and obey him. (Isaiah 65:21-25)

Jehovah created man in his own image; and our happiness in enjoying his wonderful creation simply expresses his own love and joy in providing us with these things. (Psalms 37:11,29; 145:16) It was on account of Adam's rebellion against God's clearly stated command that Adam, and subsequently his entire offspring, lost the beautiful home that Jehovah had originally provided. But he did not leave mankind without hope, for immediately following the rebellion he uttered a prophecy in which he foretold that he would undo the damage caused by Adam's rebellion, and the means by which he will bring that deliverance about. (Gen. 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:1-6, 14,15; Rom. 5:6-9, 19; 1 Cor.15:21,22) In fact, God has provided mankind with his book, the Bible, wherein he explains his "sacred secret," his means of redeeming mankind from sin and death. (1 Cor. 2:7-10) This is what all of God's faithful men and women throughout the ages have looked forward to—returning to life on earth under God's kingdom. (Luke 20:37,38; John 5:28,29; Heb. 11:13)

By rebelling against their Creator, Adam and Eve came under the power and authority of the one who instigated their rebellion, the unseen spirit creature who made himself the Devil and Satan. (Ezek. 28:13-17; Rev. 12:9) It is Satan who has been the ruler of mankind ever since. (Luke 4:5-8; John 12:31; 1 John 5:19) God has promised to deliver mankind from the authority of the Devil by establishing his own rulership in the hand of his Son, Christ Jesus. This is the kingdom that Jesus preached and taught his disciples to pray for. And it is by means of his kingdom that God will "break up the works of the Devil." (Matt. 4:17, 23; 6:9,10; 1 John 3:8)

Jesus Christ, as "the son of man," is the ruler of God's kingdom; but God also foreordained a certain number, chosen from among Jesus' disciples, to rule with him in his kingdom. The choosing of these began with the selection of the twelve apostles, and would continue until the time of the end, when, just prior to the outbreak of the great tribulation the full number of them—144,000—would be complete. (Dan. 7:13,14, 18, 22; Matt. 10:1-7; 19:27,28; Luke 12:32; Eph. 1:8-13; Rev. 7:1-4; 14:1-4; 20:6) The choosing of the 144,000 is something extraordinary, for it was not God's original purpose for Adam's offspring to die and go to heaven. Man was created to live on the earth. The Psalmist wrote: "The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to the children of Adam." (Psalms 115:16, NABRE)


Are you perhaps wondering whether you may be among God's chosen ones, his "holy ones", who will rule with the "son of man" in God's kingdom, as seen by the prophet Daniel? (Dan. 7:27; Matt. 25:31-33) If this is your hope, how can you be sure that it is from Jehovah, in view of the fact that the majority of religions teach, in one form or another, that all good people go to heaven when they die? (See Letters_0813_how_many_destinations) In the case of the chosen ones, Jehovah's spirit operates on the individual to change the natural desire of living forever upon a paradise earth to the hope of living in heaven. (Rom. 8:16-23) It is God's spirit that bears witness with the person that he has received the "new birth to a living hope". It is now their only hope. (1 Peter 1:3-5) Their hope is so strong and real that it supersedes all other desires, including the strong natural bond of one's family.

What if you have doubts whether your choosing is from God; perhaps because of feelings of unworthiness; or due to being influenced by other people's opinions on the matter. You can be certain that Jehovah will not leave you wondering indefinitely, if he really has put his seal upon you. (John 6:27; 2 Cor. 1:21,22) His holy spirit will produce evidence in your life, in answer to your prayers. With time the evidence and the power of his spirit will become such that it will be impossible for you not to act in harmony with its direction. In other words, the hope will become such a powerful issue in your life that you simply will not be able to ignore it any longer; and you will find peace only once you make the decision to act upon your hope by making acknowledgment of it to Jehovah. We can be grateful to him for dealing with us with such patience and loving kindness.

For those who do not have the choosing, the whole thing is somewhat of a mystery. I used to believe that those of the anointed who were absolutely certain of their calling had something special that made them sure of their hope; but what that special something might be was a mystery to me. Being unduly influenced by the Watchtower Society's teaching on the matter, I was under the impression that the blessings I was enjoying, and the things that were happening in my life in answer to my prayers, was something that all of God's people experience. After all, are we not worshiping the true God, the living God; unlike other religions under Satan's power. (1 Cor. 10:20,21; 2 Cor. 4:4) But with the passing of time, I came to experience the many things I have mentioned above, including the necessity to act upon the hope. For those who have been chosen by God, there is no other hope. It is not as if a person can choose his destiny. And neither does God choose anyone against his will; for the living hope that is set before him becomes his only hope, his only desire, because Jehovah is acting within him.

 

Those who are chosen by Jehovah to rule with his Son in his heavenly kingdom are not chosen because of any special worthiness or ability on their part. (2 Tim. 1:9) Like in the case of the twelve apostles, they are chosen from among "a great crowd of his disciples." (Luke 6:12-17) Jehovah has chosen each one of them according to his own purpose; and they will share in bringing blessings to obedient mankind under the rule of his heavenly kingdom. Like Jesus, they serve others as ministers. (Luke 22:24-27)



Make Sure of All Things