Why We Observe the Evening Meal

RESPONDING TO YOUR SCRIPTURAL HOPE

If you are an anointed Christian, the heavenly hope is an important subject of your personal prayers. When the Bible speaks of being 'promised in marriage' to the heavenly Bridegroom,Jesus Christ, you apply that to yourself, and you look forward to being part of Christ's "bride." (2 Corinthians 11:2; John 3:27, 29; Revelation 21:2, 9-14)  When God in his Word expresses his love for his spiritual children, you respond,  "That means me." And when Jehovah's Word gives instructions to his anointed sons, holy spirit moves you to obey and to say in your heart, "That applies to me."  God's spirit and your spirit thus join in bearing witness that you have the heavenly hope. 

On the other hand, if you are part of the "great crowd" of "other sheep," God has given you the earthly hope. (Revelation 7:9; John 10:16) You want to live forever in Paradise, and you find joy in meditating on what the Bible says about future life on earth. You look forward to enjoying abundant peace while surrounded by your family and other righteous ones. You eagerly await the time when food shortages, poverty, suffering, sickness, and death, no longer plague mankind.  (Psalm 37:10, 11, 29; 67:6; 72:7, 16; Isaiah 33:24)  You yearn to welcome those who are resurrected from the dead with the prospect of living forever on earth.  (John 5:28, 29) How thankful you are that Jehovah has blessed you with the earthly hope!  Though you do not partake of the emblems, you attend the Memorial as an expression of your appreciation for the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Next time: Why We Observe the Lord's Evening Meal - WILL YOU BE PRESENT? 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015