YOU CAN HAVE A HAPPY FUTURE!

EVERLASTING LIFE!

The well-known historical figure Jesus Christ described this feature of the knowledge of God in clear terms. He said: ""This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ." (John 17:3)  Imagine -knowledge that leads to everlasting life!

Do not quickly dismiss everlasting life as a mere dream.  Instead, look at the way the human body is made.  It is splendidly designed  to taste, hear, smell, see, and feel.  There is so much on earth that delights our senses-delicious food, pleasant birdsong, fragrant flowers, beautiful  scenery, delightful companionship! And our amazing brain is far more supercomputer, for it enables us to appreciate and enjoy all such things.  Do you think that our Creator wants us to die and lose all of this?  Would it not be more reasonable to conclude  that he wants us to live happily and enjoy life forever?  Well, that is what the knowledge of God can mean for you. 

LIFE IN PARADISE

What the Bible says about the future of the earth and mankind might be summed up in one word-Paradise!  Jesus Christ spoke of if when he told a dying man:  "You will be with me in Paradise."  (Luke 23:43)  The mention of Paradise no doubt brought to that man's mind the happy state of our first parents, Adam and Eve.  When God created them, they were perfect and lived in a garden-like park  that the Creator had designed and planted. It was fittingly called the garden of Eden, which name denotes pleasure.

How delightful that  garden was!  It was a real paradise.  Among its beautiful trees were those bearing delicious fruit. As Adam and Eve explored their domain, drank from it sweet waters, and gathered fruit from its trees, they had no reason to be anxious or fearful.  Even animals posed no threat, for God had placed the man and his wife in loving dominion over all of them.  In addition, the first human p;air had vibrant health. As long as they  remained obedient to God, and eternal, happy future lay before them.  They were given the satisfying work of caring for their wonderful Paradise home. Further, God gave Adam and Eve the mandate to "fill the earth and subdue it."  They and their offspring were to extend the borders of Paradise until our entire planet became a place of beauty and delight. - Genesis 1:28. 

When Jesus mentioned  Paradise, however, he was not asking  a dying man to think about the distant past. No, Jesus was speaking about the future!  He knew that our entire earthly home would be a paradise.  God would thus fulfill his original purpose for mankind and our earth.  (Isaiah 55:10, 11) Yes, Paradise will be restored!  And what will it be like?  Let God's Word, the Holy Bible, answer. 

Next time: YOU CAN HAVE A HAPPY FUTURE!/LIFE IN THE RESTORED PARADISE

From the book: KNOWLEDGE That Leads to Everlasting Life