The Gift Of Free Will

Why would Jehovah let humans go their own way? Because he created them with the marvelous gift of free will, the faculty of freedom of choice. "Where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom," said the apostle Paul. (2 Corinthians 3:17) No one wants to be a robot, having someone else decide every second of the day what he will say and do. But Jehovah required humans to use that gift of free will repsonsibility, to see the wisdom of doing his will and remaining subject to him. (Galatians 5:13) So freedom was not to be absolute, as that would result in anarchy. There was to be a regulating of it within the boundaries of God's benevolent laws.

By letting the human family go its own way, God has, once and for all time, demonstrated that we need his rulership. His way of ruling, his sovereignty, is the only right way. It results in the greatest happiness, satisfaction and prosperity. This is because our minds and bodies were designed by Jehovah to work best when in harmony with his laws. "I, Jehovah am your God, the one teaching you to benefit yourself, the one causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk." (Isaiah 48:17) Free choice within the boundaries of God's laws would not be burdensome but would result in a delightful variety of food, homes, art, and music. Properly exercised, free will would have resulted in a wonderful, ever fascinating life on a paradise earth.

But because of their bad choice, humans alienated themselves from Jehovah, becoming imperfect, degenerating and dying. So they would need to be redeemed from that sad condition and brought back into a perfect relationship with God as his sons and daughters. The agency God chose to accomplish this is the Kingdom, and the Redeemer is Jesus Christ. (John 3:16) Through this arrangement, truly repentant ones - like the prodigal son of Jesus' illustration - will be reconciled to God and accepted back by him as his children. - Luke 15:11-24; Romans 8:21; 2 Corinthians 6:18.

Without fail, Jehovah's will is going to be accomplished on earth. (Isaiah 14:24, 27; 55:11) By means of his Kingdom under Christ, God will fully vindicate (justify or prove) his right to be our Sovereign. The Kingdom will bring an end to human and demon rule over this earth, and it alone will rule from heaven for a thousand years. (Romans 16:20; Revelation 20:1-6) But during that time, how will the superiority of Jehovah's way of ruling be demonstrated? And after the thousand years , what role will the Kingdom have? The following article will consider these questions.

Next time: What God's Kingdom Will Do