Planning a "Normal" Life

Unlike the rich man of Jesus' illustration, you may be struggling financially.  Nevertheless, if you are married, you no doubt plan to provide the necessities of life for your family and, if possible, a good basic education for your children.  If you are single, your plans likely include finding a job or keeping the job you have, so that you are not a burden to others.  These are worthwhile goals. -2 Thessalonians 3:10-12; 1 Timothy 5:8. 

Even so, it is possible that working, eating, drinking-living what is considered to be a normal life-could bring a person into conflict with God's will. How so?  Jesus said: "Just as the days of Noah, were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be." -Matthew 24:37-39. 

Prior to the Flood, people in general enjoyed what they might have considered a normal life. Their problem, however, was that they "took no note" of God's purpose to wipe out that wicked world by means of a global deluge. They no doubt thought that Noah's lifestyle was abnormal.  Yet, when the Flood came, it was the lifestyle of Noah and his family  that proved to be truly wise. 

Today, all available evidence proves that we are living in the time of the end. (Matthew 24:3-12; 2 Timothy 3:1-5) Soon, God's Kingdom will "crush and put and end" to the current system of things.  (Daniel 2:44) Under that Kingdom, the earth will be transformed into a paradise.  The Kingdom will remove sickness and death.  (Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 21:3-5) All earth's creatures will live in harmony and be free from hunger. -Psalm 72:16; Isaiah 11:6-9. 

Next time: Conclusion of Planning a "Normal" Life

From the Watchtower magazine, 2008