Contributing to the Spiritual Paradise

Most people enjoy visiting a park or garden.  They like to walk through it or perhaps sit on a bench and enjoy the surroundings.  In a similar way, many enjoy associating with Jehovah's Witnesses.  The find the fellowship refreshing, peaceful and restorative.  However, a beautiful garden needs to be tended if it is to  continue  to be paradisaic.  Similarly, the spiritual paradise  exists in this very nonparadisaic world only because Jehovah's Witnesses cultivate it, and God blesses their efforts.  How, then, can one make a meaningful contribution to that paradise?

First, you need to associate with a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, study the Bible with them, and acquire the Bible knowledge that is the basis of the spiritual paradise.  Carla noted: "There is not spiritual paradise without spiritual food."  This includes reading God's Word regularly and thinking about what you read.  The knowledge acquired will draw you closer to Jehovah God, and you will come to love him.  You will also learn to talk to him in prayer and ask for his guidance and for his spirit to support you as you do his will.  Jesus told us to persist in prayer.  (Luke 11:9-13) The apostle Paul said: "Pray incessantly."  (1 Thessalonians 5:17)  The privilege of speaking to God in prayer with the absolute confidence that he hears you is an important part of the spiritual paradise.

As time goes by,  your life will be changed for the better by what you learn,m and eventually you will want to talk to others about it.  Then you will be able to obey Jesus' command: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens." (Matthew 5:16)  Sharing with others the knowledge of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ and extolling the great love these have shown to mankind brings much happiness.

The time is coming when all the earth will be a physical paradise-a gardenlike place free of pollution and a fitting home for faithful mankind.  The existence of the spiritual paradise in these "critical times hard to deal with" is an evidence of the power of God and a token of what he can and will accomplish in the future. -2 Timothy 3:1.

Even now, those enjoying the spiritual paradise experience a spiritual fulfillment of Isaiah 49:10: "They will not go hungry, neither will they go thirsty, nor will  parching heat or sun strike them.  For the One who is having pity upon them will lead them, and by the springs of water he will conduct them."  Jose will testify to the truth of that.  He dreamed of becoming a famous musician, but he found more satisfaction in serving God with the Christian congregation.  He says: "Now I enjoy a meaningful life.  I feel secure within the Christian brotherhood, and I know Jehovah  as a loving Father whom we can trust."  The happiness of Jose-and of millions of others like him-is thus well described at Psalm 64:10. "The righteous one will rejoice in Jehovah and will indeed take refuge  in him." What a find description of the spiritual paradise!

Next time: REJOICING FOR THOSE WHO WALK IN THE LIGHT

The Watchtower, 2001