3/2/14  The Real Person We are at Heart is often Revealed in a Moment of Testing

In June of 2011, a riot broke out in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, when a crowd of about 100,000 hockey fans crowded into the downtown core of the city in anticipation of their team winning the coveted Stanley Cup. The mood of the crowd quickly turned ugly when their team lost. Fist fights broke out; 17 cars were set on fire (including police cars); businesses were vandalized, having their store front windows smashed; while many onlookers took advantage of the situation by streaming into the stores, ransacking and looting them, and emerging with stolen items which they proudly displayed to the crowd as though they were trophies. Over 1,000,000 photos and almost 1,600 hours of video were taken during the riot, which later enabled the police to identify and lay hundreds of charges against many of the rioters. What is of special interest is the fact that many of the rioters and looters were otherwise law-abiding citizens, with no previous criminal records. In court, their defence lawyers argued that they had simply been "caught up in the moment." But it is what a person does at such "moment" that defines what sort of person he is. After all, not everyone was "caught up in the moment." The majority of the 100,000 did not participate in the riot, nor the looting. Many walked away, while a few even tried to prevent the rioters from causing all that damage, only to be themselves turned upon.

Rather than pleading innocence because of being "caught up in the moment," we reveal who we really are at heart by how we respond in a moment influenced by circumstance. We may not instigate a riot, and yet may allow ourselves to be persuaded to join the crowd. (Exodus 23:2,3) Do we really know ourselves? Do you know what you would do when suddenly confronted by some unexpected situation? In a brief moment of time we may be tested, and then the "secret person of the heart" will become manifest. (1 Peter 3:4) You might be shocked at your response, or it may confirm that you truly are the sort of person that has God's approval. (Psalms 15:1-5; Col. 3:12-14) 

Our heavenly Father Jehovah sees the person we really are, the inner person at heart―our thoughts, our desires, even discerning our motives. (1 Sam. 16:7; Jer. 17:9,10) Not only does he see the good in us, but also the things that we need to change, personality traits and habits that we need to overcome, and these he makes us aware of by bringing them to our attention. How? In the same way that he did with his people in the past, by allowing us to face situations which reveal how we respond to discomfort and suffering, doing so "in order to put you to the test so as to know what was in your heart, as to whether you would keep his commandments or not... so as to do you good in your afterdays." (Deut. 8:2,3, 16) Jehovah is not testing us in order for him to know what is in our hearts, he already knows that; but he wants us to get to know ourselves, for we are often inclined to see only what we want to see, and thus we may be in danger of fooling ourselves. (James 1:22-25)

We cannot rightly claim to be loving Jehovah, and to be obedient to him, unless that love and obedience has been proved under test. (Matt. 22:37,38; Psalms 26:2-4) We know that Jesus has always been obedient to his God and Father, and yet Paul wrote: "Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered." Yes, Jesus was made "perfect through sufferings." (Heb. 5:8; 2:10) Until he came to earth and was born as a man, living among "a faithless and twisted generation," Jesus' own love and obedience to his Father had never been put to the test. (Matt. 17:17; Acts 2:40) Peter wrote that when you "suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly." (1 Peter 2:20-23; NLT)

Like Jesus, we prove the sort of person we truly are at heart by enduring suffering, except that in our own case the suffering may reveal a weakness or shortcoming that is thereby drawn to our attention, which we must then strive to overcome. Your response to suffering gives you insight into your heart, the inner person that Jehovah sees, which may come at an unexpected moment of testing. This insight in turn will enable you to "put on the new personality which was created according to God's will in true righteousness and loyalty." (Eph. 4:24) Don't get "caught up in the moment" and be induced to follow others into doing things which you may later regret. (1 Peter 3:12)

2/16/14  Moses Did Not Picture Any Modern-Day Governing Body

Miriam, and even Aaron, began to find fault with Moses their brother, because they were not satisfied to serve Jehovah in the shadow of the one whom God had chosen to lead his people. They both kept saying: "Is it just by Moses alone that Jehovah has spoken? Is it not by us also that he has spoken?" (Num. 12:1,2; 16:1-3) Miriam and Aaron wanted greater recognition, respect, and authority before all the people, like Moses had. Although Miriam was prominent among God's people, that evidently was not enough for her. (Ex. 15:20,21; Mic. 6:4) And what was Aaron's complaint? He enjoyed prominence as God's anointed spokesman and high priest. (Ex. 4:14-16, 27-30; 30:30) Does that give evidence of two humble individuals? Moses, on the other hand, "was by far the meekest of all the men who were upon the surface of the ground." It is humility that Jehovah looks for in a person. "Before glory there is humility." (Num. 12:3; Prov. 15:33; James 4:6, 10)

Moses indeed enjoyed a special relationship with God, as Jehovah told the two complainers: "'Hear my words, please. If there came to be a prophet of yours for Jehovah, it would be in a vision I would make myself known to him. In a dream I would speak to him. Not so my servant Moses! He is being entrusted with all my house. Mouth to mouth I speak to him, thus showing him, and not by riddles; and the appearance of Jehovah is what he beholds. Why, then, did you not fear to speak against my servant, against Moses?' And Jehovah’s anger got to be hot against them." Both of them were not left unpunished. Miriam was struck with leprosy and quarantined outside the camp for seven days, not having received a heavier punishment only on account of Moses' intervention; while Aaron too, although seemingly not condemned on this occasion, was eventually stripped of his official priestly garments and sentenced to die on Mount Hor, not being allowed to enter the promised land. (Num. 12:6-15; 20:23-26)

Moses enjoyed his special relationship with Jehovah on account of the work he had been anointed to do, whereby he pictured the greater Moses, Christ Jesus. (Deut. 18:18,19; Acts 3:19-23) Therefore, as many things as were going to be fulfilled in Jesus were foreshadowed by Moses.(1 Cor. 10:4,5; Gal. 3:24; Heb. 3:5,6) It was for that reason that Jehovah also permitted Moses to see his glory, and reflect that glory when he came down from Mont Sinai, when "the skin of his face emitted rays because of his having spoken with [God]." (Ex. 33:17-23; 34:29-35; Acts 9:3-5; Heb. 9:24) Also, it was on account of Aaron picturing Jesus in the capacity of high priest that Jehovah acted mercifully with Aaron on a number of occasions. (Heb. 5:4,5)

Just as Moses had been anointed by God to mediate the old covenant and lead his people, so likewise Jesus is the only anointed leader of God's people under the new covenant, of which he is the mediator. (Matt. 23:10; Luke 22:20; 1 Tim. 2:5,6; Heb. 9:14,15) But just like in the case of Miriam and Aaron, who envied Moses' special relationship with God, there are those today who envy Jesus' position, in effect saying: "Is it just by [Jesus] alone that Jehovah has spoken? Is it not by us also that he has spoken?" In their publications they actually say: "In this time of the end, Christ has committed 'all his belongings'—all the earthly interests of the Kingdom—to his 'faithful and discreet slave' and its representative Governing Body, a group of anointed Christian men. The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ." (w10 9/15 p. 23 par. 8) These men should take to heart how "Jehovah’s anger got to be hot" against Miriam and Aaron for the same reason. Jesus told his disciples regarding the "conclusion of the system of things, that there will be "false Christs and false prophets" who will "give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones." Then, to emphasize the danger, he added: "Look! I have forewarned you." (Matt. 24:23-25; 13:40-43) What makes the situation so dangerous for God's people today is the fact that these false Christs and false prophets are actually operating right within God's temple, having given themselves the glory and authority over God's inheritance that they crave. (Acts 20:29,30; 1 Cor. 3:16,17; 2 Thess. 2:3-12; 1 Peter 5:1-3)

Like Jehovah's faithful worshipers in the Sardis congregation, we need to remain loyal to Jesus as our only leader, not by separating ourselves from the congregation of which he is the head, but by not defiling our "outer garments," keeping ourselves clean by not submitting to those who would have us compromise our obedience to God. Our loyalty would not be hidden from others as our "outer garment" is visible to all. Granted, that is not easy, but Jesus speaks of those who remain faithful as conquering, just as he conquered the world that existed among God's people in his day. By conquering, Jesus will "by no means blot out [your] name from the book of life, but will make acknowledgement of [your] name before [his] Father and before his angels." (Rev. 3:1-5, 21; 2:7, 11, 17, 24-26; John 16:3) Only Jehovah can give us everlasting life. And only Jesus is the one who will lead us to it. (John 3:16; Psalms 146:3)

1/28/14  Jehovah Does Not Tolerate Any Rivalry (Isa. 45:22,23; 46:5)

Moses had gone up Mount Sinai to meet the true God and speak with him "face to face," where he received the "two tablets of the Testimony." (Ex. 24:18; 31:18; 33:11) While Moses was absent for many days [40 days], the people became impatient and incited Aaron to make for them "a god who will go ahead of us, because as regards this Moses, the man who led us up out of the land of Egypt, we certainly do not know what has happened to him.” Aaron complied and made for them a statue of a calf from the gold they contributed for that purpose. This, of course, was a grave sin, especially since Jehovah had just finished commanding them not to do such a thing; but here they were even attaching his name to the golden image, calling for a "festival to Jehovah" the following day. (Ex. 20:23; 32:4,5) Thus, Jehovah said to Moses: "'Whoever has sinned against me, I shall wipe him out of my book. . . and on the day of my bringing punishment I shall certainly bring punishment upon them for their sin.' And Jehovah began plaguing the people because they had made the calf, which Aaron had made." (Ex. 32:9,10, 33-35; Mal. 3:16,17)

Jehovah had delivered his people out of Egypt with powerful signs, and was providing them with all their necessities as he was leading them through the wilderness on the way to the promised land by means of Moses, his mediator; and yet so many of the people failed to appreciate all that. They had not come to know Jehovah! They were indeed a "stiff-necked people," as Jehovah told Moses. It was only because of Moses' intervention that Jehovah did not exterminate the people on the spot. (Ex. 32:11-14, 28; Num. 12:5-8; Deut. 8:2-5; John 16:3)

The greater Moses, Christ Jesus, also went up "to appear before the person of God for us," and has been away for a long time―far too long for the liking of many of God's people, who today have become impatient at his seeming delay. (Matt. 25:14, 19; Acts 1:9-11; Heb. 3:5,6; 9:24) Like in Moses' day, they have made for themselves another god to go ahead of them from the "gold" they have contributed for that purpose, forming a secular corporation to lead them, even attaching God's name to it. As to their anointed leader and mediator Jesus, they seem to have the attitude, "we do not know what has happened to him." Interestingly, this development was foretold, even by Jesus, regarding God's household in the time of the end. (Matt. 23:10; 24:23-25; Luke 12:45,46) The apostle Paul explains that anyone who worships today's golden calf, namely, the "man of lawlessness," who has seated himself within God's temple and is showing himself to be a god, will perish "as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved." This will be at the time when Jesus returns. (2 Thess. 2:3-12; Matt. 7:21-23)

We need to take to heart the things that happened to God's people in the past―though thousands of years ago, because "these things went on befalling them as examples, and they were written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have arrived." (1 Cor. 10:11; Acts 20:29,30; 1 Tim. 4:1,2; 2 Peter 2:1-3)

1/19/14  Satan's Effective but Simple Question: "Is It Really So. . .?"

The Devil is "a liar and the father of the lie, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition." (John 8:43-45) Satan introduced the first lie ever spoken with a simple question, when he asked Eve: "Is it really so that God said you must not eat from every tree of the garden?" It's not as though he did not know the answer. God had not forbidden Adam and Eve to eat from every tree―just the one tree that was in the middle of the garden, as Eve correctly replied. The serpent did not dispute that. The real intent of the question was to draw Eve's attention to the tree in order to prepare her for the lie he was about to follow his question up with, by contradicting God's clearly stated consequence that eating from the forbidden tree would result in death. Eve was deceived and believed the lie that she would not die by disobeying God. She then succeeded in winning her husband over to join her. (Gen. 2:9, 16,17; 3:1-6; 1 Tim. 2:14)

Satan is still using this age old tactic. We are now living in the time Jesus spoke of when people everywhere are becoming "faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth." (Luke 21:25-28; 2 Tim. 3:1-7) The whole world is in turmoil, and people everywhere are seeking answers. By posing the simple question, "Is it really so...?", Satan is drawing people away from the obvious, away from the significance of what the real issue is behind what we are witnessing as happening. To many, everything, all the problems facing the "inhabited earth," big or small, are all due to government conspiracies. Thus they fail to understand that we are living in the "last days," and that this entire system of things is about to be destroyed. The "ruler of this world," and everything that is his, will shortly be removed and replaced with God's kingdom, the "good news" of which Jesus preached and taught us to pray for. (Matt. 6:9,10; 9:35; 24:14; Dan. 2:44; Rev. 19:17-21)

Consider for example the influence conspiracy theorists have on many people today. Their alternative explanations on world events, and who it is they are holding responsible, seems to be filling a void as they are appealing to a growing number of people, mostly those who are disillusioned with the governmental authorities, and who have lost faith in their religion. This has also enticed many of God's people to "be turned aside to false stories." (2 Tim. 4:2-5) Some former zealous Witnesses [relatives of mine included] have no problem acknowledging that the Watchtower magazines contain "inspired expressions of error," but will become defensive when their version of what is making the evening news is challenged. (1 John 4:1, 6; 1 Tim. 4:1,2) Their concern seems to be that while Jesus' presence may still be years away, there are things happening right now that pose a real threat to our immediate existence. They become impatient when we mention God's kingdom as the sole solution.

Whatever your views may be regarding these matters, by giving them your undue attention it may eventually divert your focus away from the real issue, and the only hope for mankind's problems, namely, God's kingdom. The seemingly innocuous question, "Is it really so...?", is still the means Satan uses to divert people away from the truth, and blind them to the real significance of what is causing distress to mankind at this time. (Dan. 12:9,10; Matt. 24:37-39) 

1/8/14  The "Covenant of Circumcision"

The law on circumcision, given to Abraham one year before the birth of Isaac, is often called the "Covenant of Circumcision." The two volume Bible Encyclopaedia Insight on the Scriptures (published by the Watchtower Society), under the main subject, "Covenant," lists "Covenant of Circumcision" right after discussing the "Covenant With Abraham," as if these were two separate covenants. Regarding the "Covenant of Circumcision," it states: "Circumcision served as a seal of the righteousness Abraham had by faith while in the uncircumcised state, and it was a physical sign of the covenant relationship of Abraham’s descendants through Jacob, with Jehovah." (it-1 p. 523 Covenant)

Was the command on circumcision a separate covenant, distinct from the covenant God made with Abraham prior to this? (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:18) Immediately before he told Abraham that he must get circumcised, Jehovah first changed his name from Abram to Abraham, and then once more he repeated the blessings of the covenant, assuring Abraham: "I am God Almighty. Walk before me and prove yourself faultless. And I will give my covenant between me and you, that I may multiply you very, very much. . . And I will carry out my covenant between me and you and your seed after you according to their generations for a covenant to time indefinite, to prove myself God to you and to your seed after you. And I will give to you and to your seed after you the land of your alien residences, even the entire land of Canaan, for a possession to time indefinite; and I will prove myself God to them." It is then that God further says: "As for you, you are to keep my covenant, you and your seed after you according to their generations. This is my covenant that you men will keep, between me and you men, even your seed after you: Every male of yours must get circumcised. And you must get circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it must serve as a sign of the covenant between me and you." (Gen. 17:1,2, 9-11)

Rather than being a separate covenant, a so-called "covenant of circumcision," circumcision served as a "sign of the covenant" that God had already made with Abraham. The law of circumcision would protect the lineage of Abraham, keeping it holy and uncontaminated from any intermarriage with uncircumcised people of the nations, until the appointed time the promised seed would arrive. The covenant with Abraham was fulfilled once the Messiah, Jesus, appeared according to God's promise. It is by means of him that "all the families of the ground will bless themselves." (Acts 10:25-28, 44-48; Rom. 3:1,2; Gal. 3:7-9.― For more information see a recent Question Box reply.)

12/29/13  We Cannot Associate God's Holy Name With Lies

"Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God, the Almighty." With those words, the mighty angelic seraphs, who are always in the presence of Jehovah, offer constant "glory and honor and thanksgiving to the one seated upon the throne." (Rev. 4:8-11; Isaiah 6:1-3) Yes, our God Jehovah is holy! He is a righteous God, a God of love, with whom there is no injustice. All his works are perfect. As the God of truth he cannot lie, and that means that we can have full confidence in everything he says and promises. (Deut. 32:4-6; John 17:17; Heb. 6:17,18)

What does that mean for us who want to worship God? To his covenant people Israel, Jehovah said: "I am Jehovah your God; and you must sanctify yourselves and you must prove yourselves holy, because I am holy." (Lev. 11:44; 1 Peter 1:15,16) To be holy as Jehovah is holy means that we are always truthful. Jesus said that those worshiping God "must worship with spirit and truth." (John 4:23,24) Because Jehovah God is holy, he cannot accept worship that includes untruths and lies. His holiness does not permit it! That is why, as Jesus stated, if we introduce any teaching or doctrine, or idea, into our worship that is contrary to what is contained in God's inspired Word of truth, then our worship is in vain. That means that God will not accept us nor our worship, no matter how sincere we may be. (Matt. 15:6-9; Gal. 1:8,9) If we are taught by holy spirit, then we will know the truth. God's holy spirit does not teach lies! Never! (John 8:32; 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:10, 14; 1 John 4:1, 6)

What can be said about the many teachings in our publications that are presented as being from God, and yet are often replaced with "new truths"? For example, we no longer believe that the generation of 1914 will still be alive when the end of this system of things arrives, although this was taught for the better part of fifty years (from about 1945 to 1996). Many sincere persons had placed all their hopes in that promise. Did time not expose it to have been a lie, leading to disappointment? Clearly, that false hope did not originate with God! Is it not obvious that when the Watchtower replaces one teaching with another, it is at the same time acknowledging that the previous teaching was not from God? Is this perhaps proof that God is guiding his people by constantly readjusting their understanding; or is it not rather evidence that the foretold "man of lawlessness" is sitting within God's temple, whose "presence is according to the operation of Satan"? Jesus said regarding the Devil: "That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie." (2 Thess. 2:3-12; John 8:44)

Jehovah is holy! He cannot allow himself, or his holy name, to be associated with lies. For that reason, he has warned the false prophets, who prophesy in his name, that he will destroy them at his appointed time. And Paul further warns that those who are deceived into following the "man of lawlessness" will likewise perish, because "they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved." (Ezek. 14:9,10; 2 Thess. 2:9,10)

Can we worship Jehovah and yet belong to a congregation that comes under his condemnation? That was the situation some faced in both the Thyatira and Sardis congregations, where Jesus acknowledged the few names who had not come to know "the deep things of Satan," and who were worthy to walk with him in white robes. They endured the undoubtedly constant pressure to conform, for by their love for the truth they condemned those who took pleasure in unrighteousness. We must do the same today! (1 Tim. 4:1,2; Rev. 2:24,25; 3:1, 4,5; Matt. 13:41-43)

11/15/13  The Meetings are not for God's Worship but for Our Encouragement

One insightful Circuit Overseer once told our congregation that we do not worship Jehovah at our meetings, but rather, we are taught at the meetings how to worship him. We worship God when we put into practice in our daily lives the things we learn from the Scriptures. (Rev. 3:22) Many, who consider the congregation meetings as their "place of worship," wear their finest clothing; they join in singing praises to Jehovah; and may participate in Question and Answer discussions, even quoting the Scriptures; and perhaps from time to time give a short student talk. And yet, away from their "place of worship," by their conduct they demonstrate that they have not learned what true worship really involves. (Matt. 15:8,9; John 4:23,24; James 2:1-4) The disciple James pointedly states: "Do what God’s teaching says; don’t just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves. Hearing God’s teaching and doing nothing is like looking at your face in the mirror and doing nothing about what you saw. You go away and immediately forget how bad you looked." (James 1:22-24; ERV; Matt. 13:9)  

In the world we are having tribulation! (John 16:33) The congregation meetings should be a place of refuge, where we find peace and love; and where we can be an encouragement to fellow worshipers of Jehovah. (Isa. 25:4; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:10,11) The apostle Paul explains that this is the purpose for our meetings, when he says: "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." Yes, we need each other's encouragement to help us keep a firm grip on our integrity and faith in God's promises. This is so vital, because as Paul goes on to say, "if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies." (Heb. 10:23-27; NLT) The encouragement we receive from fellow believers helps us to keep our focus on God's promises.

Many are unable to attend the congregation meetings for various reasons, yet Jehovah cares for these ones too, not leaving them without help. He understands their situation and sustains them by means of his holy spirit, which is evident to anyone who visits with them in their homes. (John 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:10, 14) Over the years I had the privilege to meet some who had to deal with enormous hardships in order to associate once a year with their fellow believers for the Memorial. And I was always amazed at their zeal and expressions of love for Jehovah and our hope. They clearly have Jehovah's spirit; unlike the many who attend regularly and yet are lacking the fruitage of the spirit. (Gal. 5:19-23; Jude 21)

Food for Thought Index