Prepare Now for Life in the New World

HOW TO PREPARE

How might we prepare now for life in God's new world?  Well, suppose we were planning to  move to another country.  How could we prepare for that change? We might start learning the language of the people who live there. Learning about their customs would be beneficial. We might sample some of their foods. To a certain extent, we begin to live as if we were already residents of that land.  After all, that is the way we expect to live once we arrive there. Similarly, we can prepare for life in the new world by living now, to the extent possible, as we expect to live then. In this regard, consider the following examples. 

In the new world, God's sovereignty will be fully upheld. What a refreshing contrast that will be to the self-rule promoted in this world under Satan's domination! Independence and an unreasonable insistence on personal preference may be highly regarded by some, but what has been the result?  Failure  to accept God's direction has led to suffering, misery, even tragedy.  (Jeremiah 10:23) How we look forward to the time when all mankind will submit to Jehovah's loving sovereignty! 

It will be a pleasure to be under Jehovah's arrangements in the new world as we work toward beautifying the earth, teaching resurrected ones, and doing Jehovah's will for mankind.   But what if we were directed to perform a particular aspect of the work that did not appeal to us?  Would we submit to that direction by doing our best to carry out and even enjoy that assignment?  Most of us would answer yes!  Consistently, then, are we submitting to theocratic direction now?  If we are doing so, we  are preparing for everlasting life under Jehovah's rulership.  

We can prepare for life in the new world not only by submitting to Jehovah's present-day arrangements but also by working now to cultivate contentment and a spirit of cooperation.  If we cooperate with those taking the lead today, perhaps finding contentment and joy in the new assignments of service, we are likely to have the same attitude in the new world.  (Read Hebrews 13:17.) In the Promised Land, the inheritances of the Israelites were apportioned by lot.  (Numbers 26:52-56; Josh 14:1, 2) Today, of course, we do not know where each one of us may be assigned to live in the new system of things. However, cooperation will bring us contentment and great happiness as we do Jehovah's will wherever we live on earth at that time.  

Next time: Prepare  Now for Life in the New World - Conclusion of HOW TO PREPARE

From the Watchtower magazine