The Bible Answers Vital Questions

Perhaps now more than at any other time in mankind's history, people are trying to find out what life is all about. Many ask themselves, 'Why am I living? How can I find meaning in my life? Various circumstances prompt them to raise these questions.

An individual's life may be shattered by a personal tragedy. For instance, early in 1998 a 12-year old girl living in Bavaria, Germany, was kidnapped and murdered. One year later, her mother admitted that she spends each day searching for a purpose in life-to no avail. Some young people are moved to wonder about the meaning of life. They search for security, fulfillment, and a sense of belonging, only to despair at the widespread hypocrisy and corruption. Other individuals build their lives around a career, but they discover that power, prestige and possessions fail to satisfy the inner yearning to find reason for their existence.

Whatever moves a person to inquire about the purpose of life, this question warrants a serious and satisfying answer. Once again, the Bible can be of great benefit. It identifies Jehovah as a God of purpose, one who has sound reason for everything he does. We ask, would you construct a house without having a reason? Likely not, since building a house requires a huge investment of money and can take months or years. You build a house so that you or someone else can live in it. The same logic can be applied to Jehovah. He did not go to all the trouble of creating earth and the living things upon it without having a reason, a purpose. (Compare Hebrews 3:4) What is his purpose for the earth?

The prophecy of Isaiah identifies Jehovah as "the true God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it." Indeed, he is "the One who firmly established [this earth], who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited." (Isaiah 45:18) Yes, ever since the earth was created, it has been Jehovah's purpose to have it inhabited. Says Psalm 115:16: "As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, but the earth he has given to the sons of men." Thus the Bible shows that Jehovah created the earth to be inhabited by obedient humans, who would care for it. -Genesis 1:27, 28.

Did the rebellion of Adam and Eve cause Jehovah to change his purpose? No. How can we be so sure? Well, consider this point: The Bible was written thousands of years after the rebellion in Eden. If God had abandoned his original purpose, why is that not mentioned in the Bible? The obvious conclusion is that his purpose for the earth and mankind remains unchanged.

Moreover, Jehovah's purpose never fails. Through Isaiah, God provides this assurance: "Just as the pouring rain descends, and the snow , from the heavens and does not return to that place, unless it actually saturates the earth and makes it produce and sprout, and seed is actually given to the sower and bread to the eater, so my word that goes forth from my mouth will prove to be. It will not return to me without results, but It will certainly do that in which I have delighted, and it will have certain success in that which I have sent it. -Isaiah 55:10, 11.

Note: In Islam or anywhere, women should not be beaten. In 1Peter 3:1, 2, 7- (1) In like manner, you wives,be in subjection to your own husbands, in order that, if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of [their wives], (2) because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect. (7) You husbands, continue dwelling in like manner with them according to knowledge, assigning them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one, since you are also heirs with them,of the undeserved favor of life, in order for your prayers not to be hindered. Any country who still beats his wife is not honoring or following Jehovah's God's Words in the Bible. For a man to beat his wife is only showing his cowardice and is not a real man at all. I have been in an abused situation. They spouse who abuses his wife or child NEVER!! changes. It is a sickness that the abuser does not think he/she has. Women should not beat on their husbands/children either. They are no better.

Next time: What God Expects of Us

Watchtower, 1999