WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WITCHCRAFT

Who Dwell in the Spirit Realm?

A basic question in the quest for spiritual understanding is this, Who inhabit the spirit realm?  While most modern witches are  followers of a nature-oriented, polytheistic faith, some worship a great mother-goddess, viewed in triple role of maiden, mother and crone, representing the basic stages of life.  Her lover is a god with horns.  Other witches worship a god and goddess together.  One writer says:  "The Goddess and God are seen as a manifestation of the feminine and masculine forces of nature.  Each [having] unique characteristics that when combined result in the harmonious creation of life."  Another authority writes:  "One of the most pivotal choices in Witchcraft is you choice of the deities [Gods/Goddesses) you will work with . . .The Craft gives you the freedom to pick and subsequently honor your own forms of the Divine.

The Bible supporters none of these ideas.  Jesus Christ devoted his entire ministry to teaching others about Jehovah, "the only true God."  (John 17:3) The Bible states:  "Jehovah is great and very much to be praised,and he is to be feared more  than all other gods.  For all the gods of the people are valueless gods." -1Chronicles 16:25, 26

What about the Devil? Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines witchcraft as  "communications with the Devil."  (Witchcraft is the Devil's work, because it takes you away from worshiping the only true God, Jehovah, which is what he is striving for)  It would be hard to find a witch today who would agree with this definition, for many do not accept event he existence of Satan  the Devil.  (This is just how smooth the Devil is)  One young woman, described in The Irish Times as a "high-ranking witch and leader of one of Ireland's most significant covens," reasons this way:  "Belief in the Devil implies acceptance of Christianity. (The Devil is trying to keep people from being true Christians.  What she says are the  words of Satan himself) . . .[The Devil] cannot inhabit a universe where there is no God. (Oh! But lady there is a god)."

The Bible confirms the existence of the Devil and charges him with much of the suffering and turmoil on earth.  (Revelation 12:12)  Jesus  not only taught that the Devil exists but also showed that it is possible to unwittingly to do the will of the Devil.  For example, self-righteous religious leaders of the first century asserted that they were, in a way, sons of God and believed that they were doing the will of God, Jesus, who could discern what was in their hearts, knew differently.  He told them forthright:  {"You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father."  (John 8:14) Further, the Bible book of Revelation states that the Devil "is misleading the entire inhabited earth."-Revelation 12:9.

Next time: Is Some Magic Good?

Watchtower, 2000

"SALVATION BELONGS TO JEHOVAH"

"You Must Not Bow Down to Them"

At times, saluting a national flag becomes a popular expression of patriotic feelings. But flags often bear representations of things in the heavens, such as stars, as well as things on the earth. God expressed his view of bowing down to such objects when he commanded his people: "You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, (meaning, do not stand or put you hand over your heart) because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion." -Exodus 20:4, 5.

Does saluting or kneeling before a flag representing the State really go against giving Jehovah God exclusive devotion? The ancient Israelites did have "signs," or standards, around which their three-tribe divisions gathered around while in the wilderness. (Numbers 2:1, 2) Commenting on the Hebrew words denoting such standards, McClintock and Strong's Cyclopedia says: "Neither of them, however, expresses the idea which 'standard' conveys to our minds, viz. A flag." Furthermore, Israel's standards were not viewed as sacred, nor were any ceremonies associated with their use. They simply served the practical purpose of signs, showing the people where to gather.

The representations of cherubs in the tabernacle and in Solomon's temple primarily served as a picture of the heavenly cherubs. (Exodus 25:18; 26:1, 31, 33; 1Kings6:23, 28, 29; Hebrews 9:23, 24) That these artistic likenesses were not to be venerated is evident from the fact that the people in general never saw them and that the angels themselves are not to be worshiped. -Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9.

Next time: Conclusion of"You Must Not Bow Down to Them"

Watchtower, 2002

KEEP PRACTICING THE THINGS YOU HAVE LEARNED

Reject "False Stories"

Satan tries to break our integrity through the sowing of doubts about what we have been taught. Today, as in the first century, apostates and others seek to destroy the faith of guileless ones. (Galatians 2:4; 5:7, 8) Sometimes they use the media to spread distorted information or even outright lies about the methods and motives of Jehovah's people. Paul warned that some would be turned away from the truth. "There will be a period of time," he wrote, "when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories ." -2Timothy 4:3, 4.

Instead of holding to the pattern of healthful words, some were intrigued by "false stories." What were these false stories? Perhaps Paul had in mind fanciful legends, such as those found in the apocryphal book of Tobit. False stories may also have included sensational and speculative rumors. Then, too, some-"in accord with their own desires" -may have been intellectually seduced by those who endorsed a permissive view of God's standards or who were critical of those taking the lead in the congregation. (2 John 9, 10; Jude 4) Whatever stumbling blocks were involved, some evidently preferred falsehoods over the truths of God's Word. Soon they stopped practicing the things they had learned, and this was to their own spiritual detriment. - Peter 3:15, 16.

We can avoid turning aside to false stories today if we scrutinize and are selective about what we listen to and what we read. For example, the media often promote immorality . May people encourage agnosticism or outright atheism. Higher critics ridicule the Bible's claim to divine inspiration. And modern-day apostates keep on trying to sow seeds of doubt in order to subvert the faith of Christians. Regarding a comparable danger posed by false prophets in the first century, the apostle John warned: "Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expression to see whether they originate with God, because may false prophets have gone forth into the world." (1 John 4:1) So we need to be careful.

Next time: Conclusion of Reject "False Stories"

Watchtower, 2002

IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT KIND OF MESSENGER

The Messenger's Good News for Zion!

But there is more. Isaiah 52:7 tells of good news for Jerusalem: "How comely upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, the one publishing peace, the one bringing good news of something better, the one publishing salvation, the one saying to Zion: 'Your God has become king!' " Imagine how thrilling it was to see a messenger approaching Jerusalem from the mountains! He must have news of God's goodwill. Jerusalem and her temple are to be rebuilt! And the messenger proclaims with triumphant enthusiasm: "Your God has become king!"

When Jehovah allowed the Babylonians to overturn his typical throne on which the kings of David's line sat, it might have seemed that He was no longer King. Marduk, Babylon's chief god, appeared to be king instead. However, when Zion's God overthrew Babylon, he demonstrated his universal sovereignty-that he was the greatest King. And to underscore this fact, Jerusalem, "the city of the great King," was to be reestablished, along with its temple. (Matthew 5:35) As for the messenger who brought such good news, although his feet were dusty, soiled and bruised, in the eyes of the lovers of Zion and her God, they looked, oh, so comely!

In a prophetic sense, Babylon's fall meant that God's kingdom was established and the hearer of good news was proclaimer of that fact. Further, this ancient courier, foretold through Isaiah, prefigured a messenger of grander good news-grander because of its sublime content and its Kingdom theme, with marvelous implications for all people of faith.

Ezekiel too was given glowing prophecies of restoration. He prophesied: "This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, . . .'I will also cause the cities to be inhabited, and the devastated places must be rebuilt, and people will certainly say: "That land yonder which was laid desolate has become like the garden of Eden." ' " -Ezekiel 36:33, 35.

In Babylonian captivity, God's people had been mourning over Zion. (Psalm 137:1) Now, they could rejoice. Isaiah exhorted: "Become cheerful, cry out joyfully in unison, you devastated places of Jerusalem, for Jehovah has comforted his people; he has repurchased Jerusalem. Jehovah has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth must see the salvation of our God." -Isaiah 52:9, 10.

Next time: Conclusion of The Messenger's Good News for Zion!

Watchtower, 1997

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE GOD'S WORD?

"Form a Longing" for God's Word

As newborn infants, "wrote the apostle Peter, "form a longing for the unadulterated milk belonging to the word. (1 Peter 2:2) Just as a baby craves its mother's milk, Christians who are conscious of their spiritual need find exquisite delight in reading God's Word. Is that how you feel? If not, do not despair. You too can cultivate a longing for God's Word.

In order to do so, first discipline yourself to make Bible reading a regular habit, a daily one if possible. (Acts 17:11) You may not be able to spend an hour each day in Bible reading as Nasho Dori did, but quite likely you can set aside some time each day to consider God's Word. Many Christians arise a few minutes early in order to meditate on a Bible passage. what better way could there be to start the day? Others just before retiring. Still others read the Bible at some other convenient time. The important thing is to read the Bible regularly. Then, take a few moments to meditate on what you have read. Let us consider some examples of individuals who benefited from reading and meditating on God's Word.

Next time: A Psalmist Who Loved God's Law

Watchtower, 1999

The Bible Answers Vital Questions

What God Expects of Us

Clearly, then, we can have confidence in the fulfillment of God's purpose to have the earth inhabited forever by obedient humans. If we are to be among those privileged to live permanently on earth, we must do what wise King Solomon said: "Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man." -Ecclesiastes 12:13; John 17:3.

Living in harmony with Jehovah's purpose for mankind means getting to know the true God and conforming to his requirements as set out in the Holy Scriptures. If we do this now we can entertain the hope of everlasting life on a paradise earth, in which we will never cease to learn new things about God and his wonderful creation. (Luke 23:43) What a thrilling prospect!

Many who search for a purpose in life turn to the Bible and find great happiness right now. For instance, a young man named Alfred could find no meaning in life. The involvement of religion in war disgusted him, and he was upset at the hypocrisy and corruption in politics. Alfred visited Indians of North America in the hope of gaining enlightenment about life's purpose, only to return to Europe disappointed. In despair, he turned to drugs and wild music. However, a regular and careful examination of the Bible later helped Alfred to recognize the true purpose of life and to find contentment.

Next time: A Dependable Light to Our Roadway

Watchtower, 1999

Searching for Jehovah With a Prepared Heart

A Prepared Heart Is Rich in Faith

A heart strong in faith knows that whatever Jehovah asks or directs his Word is always right and in our best interests. (Isaiah 48:17, 18) A person with such a heart gets deep satisfaction and contentment from applying the exhortation at Proverbs 3:5, 6, which says: "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight." A heart lacking in faith, however, would be disinclined to trust in Jehovah, especially if doing so involve sacrifices, such as simplifying one's life in order to focus on Kingdom interests. (Matthew 6:33) For good reason, Jehovah views a faithless heart as "wicked." -Hebrews 3:12.

Our faith in Jehovah is reflected in many areas, including the things we do in the privacy of our own home. Take, for example, the principle at Galatians 6:7: "Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap." Our faith in this principle will be reflected in such things as the movies we watch, the books we read, the amount of Bible study we do,and in our prayers. Yes, a strong faith that moves us to sow "with a view to the spirit" is a key factor in having a heart that is prepared to accept Jehovah's Word and to obey it. -Galatians 6:8.

Next time: Love-The Greatest Quality

Watchtower,2000

Searching for Jehovah With a Prepared Heart

Humility Softens the Heart

Humility is a vital factor in having a prepared heart because it makes us teachable and helps us to accept more readily loving counsel and correction. Consider the fine example of King Josiah. During his reign a document containing God's Law given through Moses was found. When Josiah heard the words of the Law and realized how far his forefathers had strayed from pure worship, he ripped his garments apart and wept before Jehovah. Why did God's Word so deeply touch the king's heart? The account says that his heart was "soft," so that he humbled himself upon hearing Jehovah's words. Jehovah noted Josiah's humble, receptive heart and blessed him accordingly. -2 Kings 22:11, 18-20.

Humility enabled Jesus' "unlettered and ordinary" disciples to grasp and apply spiritual truths that escaped those who were "wise and intellectual" but only "in a fleshly way." (Acts 4:13; Luke 10:21; 1 Corinthians 1:26) The latter were not prepared to accept Jehovah's word because their hearts were hardened by pride . Is it any wonder that Jehovah hates pride? -Proverbs 8:13; Daniel 5:20.

Next time: Honesty and Godly Fear

Watchtower, 2000

Searching for Jehovah With a Prepared Heart

Factors That Enrich the "Soil of Our Heart

Let us consider some factors, or qualities, that will enrich the "soil" of our heart so that it favors healthy growth. There are, of course, many things that will improve our heart, but here we will consider six: a recognition of our spiritual need, humility, honesty, godly fear, faith and love.

"Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need," Jesus said. (Matthew 5:3) Like physical hunger that reminds us of our need to eat, an awareness of our spiritual need keeps us hungry for spiritual food. By nature, humans have a craving for such food because it gives meaning and purpose to life. Pressures from Satan's system of things, or sheer laziness when it comes to study may dull our consciousness of this need. Even so, Jesus said: "Man must live not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah's mouth." -Matthew 4:4.

In a literal way, regular, balanced, and wholesome meals promote bodily health, and they also incline the body to develop an appetite for the next meal when the time arrives. The same is true in a spiritual sense. You may not consider yourself to be a studious person, but if you make it a habit to read publications on a regular basis, you will find that your appetite increases. In fact, you will eagerly look forward to your times for Bible study. So do not give up easily; work hard to develop a wholesome spiritual appetite.

Next time: Humility Softens the Heart

Watchtower, 2000

Searching for Jehovah With a Prepared Heart

ISRAELITE priest Ezra was an outstanding researcher, scholar, copyist and teacher of the Law. For Christians today he is also a fine example of whole-souled service. How so? In that he maintained his godly devotion even while living in Babylon, a city filled with false gods and demon worship.

Ezra's godly devotion did not just happen. He worked at it. Indeed, he tells us that he "had prepared his heart to consult the law of Jehovah and to do it." -Ezra 7:10.

Like Ezra, Jehovah's people today want to do all that Jehovah asks of them while living in a world that is hostile to true worship. So let us examine ways in which we too can prepare our heart, the inner person-including our thoughts, attitudes, desires and motivations-to "consult the law of Jehovah and to do it."

Next time: Preparing Our Heart

Watchtower, 2000

ARE YOU MOVED TO ACT AS JESUS WAS?

He Urged Others to Witness

Priority put on preaching and teaching-as an expression of love and compassion-was not for Jesus alone. He urged his followers to imitate his motives, priorities and actions. For instance, after Jesus selected his 12 apostles, what were they to do? Mark 3:14, 15 tells us: "He formed a group of twelve, whom he also named 'apostles,' that they might continue with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to expel the demons." Do you see any priority for the apostles?

In time, Jesus did enable the 12 to heal others and to expel demons. (Matthew 10:1; Luke 9:1) He then sent them on a tour to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." To do what? Jesus directed them: "As you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.' Cure sick people, raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons." (Matthew 10:5-8; Luke 9:2) What, in fact, did they do? "So they set out and [1] preached in order that people might repent; and [2] they would expel many demons and grease many sickly people with oil and cure them." -Mark 6:12, 13.

Since teaching is not in every instance mentioned first,is noting the above sequence reading too much into the matter of priorities or the motives involved? (Luke 10:1-9) Well, we should not discount the frequency with which teaching is mentioned before healing. Consider the context in this case. Just before sending out the 12 apostles, Jesus had been touched by the condition of the crowds. We read: "Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity. On seeing the crowds he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples: 'Yes, the harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.' " -Matthew 9:35-38.

By being with him. The apostles could absorb some of the mind of Christ. They could sense that their being truly loving and compassionate toward people included preaching and teaching about the Kingdom- that was to be a principal aspect of their good works. In line with that, the fine deeds of a physical nature, such as healing the sick, did more than help the needy. As you can imagine, some people might be drawn by cures and miraculously provided food. (Matthew 4:24,25; 8:16; 9:32, 33; 14:35, 36; John 6:26) Beyond being of physical help, however, those works actually moved observers to recognize that Jesus was the Son of God and "the prophet" that Moses had foretold. -John 6:14; Deuteronomy 18:15.

Why was it significant that Jesus was "the prophet?" Well, what was the key role foretold for that one? Was "the prophet" to be famous for performing miraculous healings or compassionately producing food for the hungry? Deuteronomy 18:18 predicted: "A prophet I shall raise up for them from the midst of their brothers, like you [Moses]; and I shall indeed put my words in his mouth, and he will certainly speak to them all that I shall command him." So even as the apostles learned to have and express tender feelings, they could conclude that the mind of Christ was to be evidenced also in their preaching and teaching activity. that would be the very best that they could do for his people. By that means, the sick and the poor could gain permanent benefits, not just those limited to a shore human life span or a meal or two. -John 6:26-30.

Next time: Develop the Mind of Christ Today

Watchtower, 2000

LET US BE THE SORT THAT HAVE FAITH

Express Confidence in One Another

The first thing we might note is Paul's positive attitude toward his audience. He wrote: "Now we are not the sort that shrink back to destruction, but the sort that have faith to the preserving alive of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39) Paul thought the best, not the worst, of his faithful fellow Christians. Notice, too, that he used the expression "we." Paul was a righteous man. Yet, he did not speak down to his audience, as if he were on a lofty plane of righteousness far above them. (Compare Ecclesiastes 7:16) Rather, he included himself with them. He expressed heartfelt confidence that he and his faithful Christian readers would all face the daunting obstacles looming before them, that they would courageously refuse to shrink back to destruction, and that they would prove to be of the sort that have faith.

How could Paul have such confidence? Was he blind to the faults of the Hebrew Christians? On the contrary, he offered them specific counsel to help them overcome their spiritual shortcomings . (Hebrews 3:12; 5:12-14; 6:4-6; 10:26, 27; 12:5) Still, Paul had at least two good reasons for having confidence in his brothers. (1) As an imitator of Jehovah, Paul endeavored to see God's people as Jehovah sees them. That was not merely in terms of their faults but in terms of their good qualities and their potential for choosing to do good in the future. (Psalm 130:3; Ephesians 5:1) (2) Paul had implicit faith in the power of the holy spirit. He knew that no obstacles, no human frailties could prevent Jehovah from imparting "power beyond what is normal" to any Christians endeavoring to serve Him faithfully. (2 Corinthians 4:7; Philippians 4:13) So Paul's confidence in is brothers and sisters was not misplaced,unrealistic, or blindly optimistic. It was solidly based and Scripturally founded.

Surely, the confidence Paul displayed proved infectious. It must have meant a great deal to the congregation in Jerusalem and Judea to have Paul speak so encouragingly to them. In the face of the withering scorn and haughty indifference of their Jewish opposers, the Hebrew Christians were helped by such expressions to resolve in their hearts to be the sort that have faith. Can we do the same for one another today? It is all too easy to see in others only a long list of faults and personality quirks. (Matthew 7:1-5) Yet, we can help on another far more if we take note of and value the unique faith that each one possesses. With such encouragement, faith is more likely to grow. -Romans 1:11, 12.

Next time: Fitting Use of God's Word

Watchtower, 1999

FORGIVE FROM YOUR HEART

We Need to Work at Being Forgiving

It would be nice to think that in the Christian congregation, there are few occasions when we have to practice the godly course of forgiving. The reality is otherwise. Granted, our Christian brothers and sisters are striving to follow Jesus' pattern of love. (John 13:35; 15:12, 13; Galatians 6:2) They have long worked, and are still working, to abandon ways of thinking, speaking, and acting common to this wicked world. They truly want to manifest the new personality. (Colossians 3:9, 10) Yet, we cannot ignore the fact that the global congregation, and each local congregation, is composed of imperfect humans. Overall, they are certainly better than they once were, yet they are still imperfect.

In the Bible, God deliberately tells us that we can expect imperfection in the congregation, among our brothers and sisters. Consider, for instance, Paul's words recorded at Colossians 3:13: "Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Even as Jehovah freely forgave you, so do you also.{"

Significantly, the Bible here reminds us of the link between God's forgiving us and our duty and need to be forgiving toward others. Why is this a challenge? Because Paul admitted that someone may have "a cause for complaint against another." He realized that such causes would exist. They must have existed in the first century, even among Christian "holy ones," who, had a 'hope reserved for them in the heavens.' (Colossians 1:2, 5) So we can imagine that it would be otherwise today when most true Christians do not have the testimony of the spirit that they are God's chosen ones, holy and loved."? (Colossians 3:12) Hence, we should not conclude that something is exceptionally wrong if in our congregation there are causes for complaint-hurtful feelings over real or supposed wrongs.

The words of Jesus' half brother James also show that we must expect that we may at least occasionally encounter situations that call on us to forgive our brothers. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show out of his fine conduct his works with a mildness that belongs to wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth." (James 3:13, 14) "Bitter jealousy and contentiousness" in the hearts of true Christians? Yes, James' words clearly suggest that such had surfaced in the first-century congregation and will do so today.

A real example involved two anointed Christians who had a fine reputation for exerting themselves side by side with Paul. You may recall reading about Euodia and Syntyche, members of the Philippian congregation. Though not describing the matter in detail. Philippians 4:2,3 shows that there was some problem between them. Did it begin with a thoughtless, unkind comment, a perceived slight of a relative, or some evidence of competitive jealousy? Whatever its nature, it became so serious that Paul heard about it far away in Rome. Icy silence may have developed between the two spiritual sisters, leading to their keeping each other at a distance at the meetings or making harsh comments about the other to their friends.

Does any of that sound familiar, like what occurred between some in your congregation or something that you were involved in? A problem of that sort may even now exist to a degree. What can we do? In the ancient case , Paul urged those two dedicated sisters "to be of the same mind in the Lord." They may have agreed to discuss the matter, to clear the air, to express a mutual willingness to forgive,and then actually to imitate Jehovah's forgiving attitude. There is not reason to think other than that euodia and Syntyche succeeded, and we too can succeed. Such a forgiving attitude can be applied successfully today.

Next time: Make Peace-Forgive

Watchtower, 1999

ACQUIRE A HEART AGREEABLE TO JEHOVAH

"Apply Your Hearts" To God's Word

When admonishing the sons of Israel gathered on the plains of Moab prior to entering the Promised Land, Moses said: "Apply your hearts to all the words that I am speaking in warning to you today, that you may command your sons to take care to do all the words of this law." (Deuteronomy 32:46) The Israelites were to "pay good heed." (Knox) Only by being thoroughly familiar with God's commands could they inculcate them in their offspring. -Deuteronomy 6:6-8.

A key requirement for acquiring a pure heart is that of gaining accurate knowledge of God's will and purposes. There is only one source of that knowledge, the inspired Word of God. ( 2 Timothy 3:16, 17) Head knowledge alone, though, is not going to help us to acquire a heart that pleases Jehovah. For knowledge to affect what we really are inside, we must 'apply our heart' to, or "take to heart," what we are learning. (Deuteronomy 32:46, An American Translation) How is this done? The psalmist David explains: "I have remembered days of long ago; I have meditated on all your activity; I willingly kept myself concerned with the work of your own hands." -Psalm 143:5.

We too should appreciatively meditate on Jehovah's activity. When reading the Bible or Bible-based publications, we need to ponder over such questions as: 'What does this teach me about Jehovah? What attributes of Jehovah do I see displayed here? What does this account teach me about what Jehovah likes and dislikes? what are the consequences of following a course that Jehovah loves as compared with following one that he hates? How does this information connect with what I already know?

Thirty-two year old Lisa explains how she came to appreciate the value of purposeful study and meditation: "After my baptism in 194, I was quite active in the truth for about two years. I attended all the Christian meetings, devoted from 30 to 40 hours per month to the field ministry,and associated with fellow Christians. Then I started to drift away. I sank so low that I even violated God's law. But I woke up and decided to clean up my life. How glad I am that Jehovah has recognized my repentance and accepted me back! I have often pondered: 'why did I fall away?' The answer that I kept coming back to is that I neglected purposeful study and meditation. Bible truth just had not reached my heart. From now on, personal study and meditation will always be a significant part of my life." As we grow in our knowledge of Jehovah, his Son, and his Word, how vital that we make time for meaningful reflection!

In this busy world, finding time for study and meditation is indeed a challenge. However, Christians today stand at the threshold of a wonderful Promised Land -God's righteous new world. (2 Peter 3:13) Startling events, such as the destruction of "Babylon the Great" and the attack by "Gog of the land of Magog" upon Jehovah's people, are in the offing. (Revelation 17:1, 2, 5, 15-17; Ezekiel 38:1-4, 14-16; 39:2) What lies ahead may put their our love for Jehovah to the test. It is urgent that we now buy out the opportune time and apply our heart to God's Word. -Ephesians 5:15, 16.

Next time: 'Prepare Your Heart To Consult God's Word'

Watchtower,2001