Jehovah The God of Purpose

“Surely just as I have figured, so it must occur; and just as I have counseled, that is what will come true.”​—ISAIAH 14:24.

1, 2. What do many say about the purpose of life?

PEOPLE everywhere ask: “What is the purpose of life?” A Western political leader stated: “More people than ever before are asking, ‘Who are we? What is our purpose?’” When a newspaper polled young people on the question of what life’s purpose is, typical responses were: “To do whatever your heart desires.” “Living every moment to its fullest.” “Living it up.” “To have children, to be happy and then to die.” Most felt that this life was all there is. No one spoke of any long-range purpose to life on earth.

² A Confucian scholar said: “The ultimate meaning of life is found in our ordinary, human existence.” According to this, people would continue to be born, struggle for 70 or 80 years, then die and be nonexistent forever. An evolutionary scientist said: “We may yearn for a ‘higher’ answer​—but none exists.” For these evolutionists, life is a struggle for survival, with death ending it all. Such philosophies present a hopeless view of life.

3, 4. How do world conditions affect the way many view life?

³ Many doubt that life has a purpose when they see that human existence has been filled with so much misery. In our time, when man is supposed to have reached a peak of industrial and scientific accomplishment, about a billion people worldwide are seriously ill or malnourished. Millions of children die each year from such causes. In addition, this 20th century has had four times as many deaths from war as had the previous four hundred years combined. Crime, violence, drug abuse, family breakdown, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases​—the list of negative factors increases. World leaders do not have solutions for these problems.

⁴ In view of such conditions, one person expressed what many believe: “There’s no point to life. If all of these bad things are happening, then life doesn’t mean much.” And an elderly man said: “I’ve been asking why I’m here most of my life. If there’s a purpose, I don’t care anymore.” So because multitudes do not know why God permits suffering, distressing world conditions cause them to have no real hope for the future.

5. Why do this world’s religions add to the confusion about the purpose of life?

⁵ Even religious leaders are divided, and uncertain, about the purpose of life. A former dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London said: “All my life I have struggled to find the purpose of living. . . . I have failed.” True, many clergymen teach that at death the good go to heaven and the bad go to a fiery hell forever. But this view still leaves mankind on earth to continue its tormented course. And if it was God’s purpose to have people live in heaven, why did he not just make them heavenly creatures to begin with, as he did the angels, and thus spare humans so much suffering? So confusion as to the purpose of life on earth or refusal to believe that it has any purpose is common.

The God of Purpose

6, 7. What does the Bible tell us about the Universal Sovereign?

⁶ Yet, the most widely distributed book in history, the Holy Bible, tells us that Jehovah, the Sovereign of the universe, is the God of purpose. It shows us that he has a long-range, in fact, an eternal, purpose for humankind on earth. And when Jehovah purposes something, it will without fail take place. Just as the rain causes seed to sprout, says God, “so my word that goes forth from my mouth will prove to be. It will not return to me without results, but it will certainly do that in which I have delighted, and it will have certain success in that for which I have sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10, 11) Whatever Jehovah says he will accomplish “is what will come true.”​—Isaiah 14:24.

⁷ We humans can have full confidence that the Almighty will keep his promises, for God “cannot lie.” (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18) When he tells us he will do something, his word is a guarantee that it will come to pass. It is as good as done. He declares: “I am the Divine One and there is no other God, nor anyone like me; the One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been done; the One saying, ‘My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do’ . . . I have even spoken it; I shall also bring it in. I have formed it, I shall also do it.”​—Isaiah 46:9-11.

8. Can those who sincerely want to know God find him?

⁸ Furthermore, Jehovah “does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) For this reason, he does not want anyone to be ignorant of him. A prophet named Azariah said: “If you search for [God], he will let himself be found by you, but if you leave him he will leave you.” (2 Chronicles 15:1, 2) Hence, those who sincerely want to know God and his purposes can surely do so if they make the effort to search for him.

9, 10. (a) What has been provided for those who want to know God? (b) What does a search of God’s Word enable us to do?

⁹ Search where? For those truly searching for God, he has provided his Word, the Bible. By means of his holy spirit, the same active force that he used to create the universe, God directed faithful men to write down what we need to know about his purposes. For example, regarding Bible prophecy, the apostle Peter said: “Prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21) Similarly, the apostle Paul declared: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.”​—2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

¹⁰ Note that God’s Word enables us to be, not partially or incompletely, but “fully competent, completely equipped.” It enables one to be certain about who God is, what his purposes are, and what he requires of his servants. This is to be expected from a book authored by God. And it is the only source we can search to get accurate knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5; John 17:3) By doing so, we will “no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error.” (Ephesians 4:13, 14) The psalmist expressed the proper outlook: “Your [God’s] word is a lamp to my foot, and a light to my roadway.”​—Psalm 119:105.

Progressively Revealed

11. How has Jehovah revealed his purposes to mankind?

¹¹ At the very beginning of the human family, Jehovah revealed his purposes toward this earth and humans upon it. (Genesis 1:26-30) But when our first parents rejected God’s sovereignty, mankind fell into spiritual darkness and death. (Romans 5:12) Nevertheless, Jehovah knew that there would be those who would want to serve him. Therefore, down through the centuries, he has progressively revealed his purposes to his faithful servants. Some of those with whom he communicated were Enoch (Genesis 5:24; Jude 14, 15), Noah (Genesis 6:9, 13), Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), and Moses (Exodus 31:18; 34:27, 28). God’s prophet Amos wrote: “The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets.”​—Amos 3:7; Daniel 2:27, 28.

12. How did Jesus shed more light on God’s purposes?

¹² When God’s Son, Jesus Christ, was on the earth some 4,000 years after the rebellion in Eden, many more details of Jehovah’s purposes were revealed. This was particularly so regarding God’s purpose to establish a heavenly Kingdom to rule over the earth. (Daniel 2:44) Jesus made that Kingdom the theme of his teaching. (Matthew 4:17; 6:10) He and his disciples taught that under the Kingdom, God’s original purpose for the earth and for mankind would be fulfilled. The earth would be transformed into a paradise inhabited by perfect humans, who would live forever. (Psalm 37:29; Matthew 5:5; Luke 23:43; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:4) Moreover, Jesus and his disciples demonstrated what would take place in that new world by the miracles God empowered them to perform.​—Matthew 10:1, 8; 15:30, 31; John 11:25-44.

13. Regarding God’s dealings with humankind, what change took place at Pentecost 33 C.E.?

¹³ At Pentecost 33 C.E., 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection, God’s spirit was poured out on the congregation of Christ’s followers. It replaced unfaithful Israel as Jehovah’s covenant people. (Matthew 21:43; 27:51; Acts 2:1-4) The outpouring of the holy spirit on that occasion was an evidence that, from that time on, God would reveal the truths about his purposes through this new agency. (Ephesians 3:10) During the first century C.E., the organizational framework of the Christian congregation was established.​—1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Ephesians 4:11, 12.

14. How can truth seekers identify the true Christian congregation?

¹⁴ Today, truth seekers can identify the true Christian congregation by its consistent manifestation of God’s foremost quality, love. (1 John 4:8, 16) Indeed, brotherly love is an identifying mark of genuine Christianity. Jesus said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” “This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.” (John 13:35; 15:12) And Jesus reminded his hearers: “You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you.” (John 15:14) So God’s true servants are those who live the law of love. They do not just talk about it, for “faith without works is dead.”​—James 2:26.

Enlightenment

15. Of what can God’s servants be assured?

¹⁵ Jesus foretold that with the passing of time, the true Christian congregation would be enlightened more and more regarding God’s purposes. He promised his followers: “The helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things.” (John 14:26) Jesus also said: “Look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 28:20) Thus, enlightenment concerning the truth about God and his purposes increases among God’s servants. Yes, “the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.”​—Proverbs 4:18.

16. What does our spiritual enlightenment tell us about where we are with respect to God’s purposes?

¹⁶ Today, that spiritual light is brighter than ever, for we are at the time when many Bible prophecies are being fulfilled or are nearing fulfillment. These show us that we are living in “the last days” of this evil system of things. This is the time period called “the conclusion of the system of things”; it will be followed by God’s new world. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13; Matthew 24:3-13) As foretold by Daniel, God’s heavenly Kingdom will soon “crush and put an end to all these kingdoms [now existing], and it itself will stand to times indefinite.”​—Daniel 2:44.

17, 18. What grand prophecies are now being fulfilled?

¹⁷ Among the prophecies now being fulfilled is the one recorded in verse 14 of Matthew chapter 24. There Jesus said: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” All over the earth, that Kingdom-preaching work is being done by millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses. And hundreds of thousands of people are joining them every year. This is in harmony with the prophecy at Isaiah 2:2, 3, which says that “in the final part of the days” of this evil world, people from many nations would come to Jehovah’s true worship, and ‘he would instruct them about his ways, and they would walk in his paths.’

¹⁸ These new ones are flocking to Jehovah’s worship “just like a cloud,” as foretold at Isaiah chapter 60, verse 8. Isa 60 Verse 22 adds: “The little one himself will become a thousand, and the small one a mighty nation. I myself, Jehovah, shall speed it up in its own time.” That time, the evidence shows, is right now. And new ones can be confident that in associating with Jehovah’s Witnesses, they have come into contact with the true Christian congregation.

19. Why do we say that new ones who associate with Jehovah’s Witnesses are coming to the true Christian congregation?

¹⁹ Why can we say this with certainty? Because these new ones, along with the millions already within Jehovah’s organization, have dedicated their lives to God and are doing his will. This includes living in harmony with the law of godly love. As one evidence of this, these Christians have ‘beaten their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears and are not learning war anymore.’ (Isaiah 2:4) All of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide have done this because they practice love. This means that they can never take up war weapons against one another or anyone else. In this they are unique​—unlike the world’s religions. (John 13:34, 35; 1 John 3:10-12, 15) They do not become involved in divisive nationalism, for they form a global brotherhood cemented by love, “a perfect bond of union.”​—Colossians 3:14; Matthew 23:8; 1 John 4:20, 21.

Most Choose Not to Know

20, 21. Why are the vast majority of mankind in spiritual darkness? (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19)

²⁰ While the spiritual light among God’s servants brightens, the rest of earth’s population is descending into ever-greater spiritual darkness. They do not know Jehovah or his purposes. God’s prophet described this time when he said: “Look! darkness itself will cover the earth, and thick gloom the national groups.” (Isaiah 60:2) This is so because people do not manifest a sincere interest in learning about God, nor do they show a desire to try to please him. Jesus said: “Now this is the basis for judgment, that the light has come into the world but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked. For he that practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, in order that his works may not be reproved.”​—John 3:19, 20.

²¹ Such individuals are not genuinely interested in finding out God’s will. Instead, they center their lives on doing their own will. By ignoring God’s will, they place themselves in a dangerous position, for his Word declares: “He that is turning his ear away from hearing the law​—even his prayer is something detestable.” (Proverbs 28:9) They will bear the consequences of their chosen course. The apostle Paul wrote: “Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap.”​—Galatians 6:7.

22. Multitudes who want to know God are now doing what?

²² However, there are multitudes who do want to know God’s will, who sincerely search for him, and who are drawn to him. “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you,” says James 4:8. Of such ones Jesus said: “He that does what is true comes to the light, in order that his works may be made manifest as having been worked in harmony with God.” (John 3:21) And what a marvelous future God has purposed for those who come to the light! Our next article will discuss the thrilling prospects.

Trust Jehovah to Fulfill His Purpose

“The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.”​—PSALM 37:29.

1. What is Jehovah’s purpose for humans and for this earth?

WHEN Jehovah created our first parents, Adam and Eve, he made them perfect. And he created them so that they could live forever on this earth​—if they obeyed his laws. (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:17) Furthermore, God placed them in paradisaic surroundings. (Genesis 2:8, 9) Jehovah said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28) Thus, their offspring would eventually spread earth wide, and this planet would become a paradise filled with a perfect, happy race of people. What a fine start the human family had! “God saw everything he had made and, look! it was very good.”​—Genesis 1:31.

2. The state of human affairs raises what questions?

² Yet, the state of human affairs that has existed for thousands of years bears no resemblance to God’s original purpose. Mankind is far removed from perfection and is far from being happy. World conditions have been distressing, and as prophesied, they have worsened dramatically in our time. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13) So how can we be confident that God’s purpose for humans will be realized in the near future? Will more long periods of time pass with continued distressing conditions?

What Went Wrong?

3. Why did Jehovah not immediately end the rebellion of mankind?

³ Those who have accurate knowledge of God’s inspired Word know why Jehovah has permitted these bad conditions on earth. They also know what he will do about them. From the Bible account, they have learned that our first parents misused the wonderful gift of free choice that God had given humans. (Compare 1 Peter 2:16.) They wrongly chose the course of independence from God. (Genesis, chapters 2 and 3) Their rebellion raised questions of the greatest magnitude, such as: Does the Universal Sovereign have the right to rule over humans? Is his rule best for them? Can human rule succeed without God’s oversight? The sure way to find the answers to these questions was to let centuries of human rule pass. The results would show beyond any doubt whether humans could be successful apart from their Maker.

4, 5. (a) What has been the result of human rejection of God’s rule? (b) What has the passing of time demonstrated beyond any doubt?

⁴ When Adam and Eve left God, he no longer sustained them in perfection. Without his support, they deteriorated. The result was imperfection, old age, and ultimately death. Through the laws of heredity, our first parents passed those negative characteristics on to all their descendants, including us. (Romans 5:12) And what of the result of thousands of years of human rule? It has been catastrophic, just as Ecclesiastes 8:9 truthfully states: “Man has dominated man to his injury.”

⁵ The passing of time has shown beyond any doubt that it is not in humans to direct their affairs successfully apart from their Creator. The inspired Bible writer Jeremiah declared: “I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”​—Jeremiah 10:23; Deuteronomy 32:4, 5; Ecclesiastes 7:29.

God’s Purpose Has Not Changed

6, 7. (a) Have thousands of years of history changed Jehovah’s purpose? (b) What is included in Jehovah’s purpose?

⁶ Has the passing of thousands of years of human history​—so filled with wickedness and suffering—​changed God’s purpose? His Word states: “This is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, He the true God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited.” (Isaiah 45:18) So God formed the earth to be inhabited by humans, and that is still his purpose.

⁷ Not only did Jehovah create the earth to be inhabited but he also purposed that it become a paradise to be enjoyed by perfect, happy people. That is why the Bible foretold that there would be “a new earth,” a new human society, in which “righteousness is to dwell.” (2 Peter 3:13) And at Revelation 21:4, God’s Word tells us that in his new world, “he will wipe out every tear from [mankind’s] eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.” It is for such reasons that Jesus could speak of that coming new world on earth as “Paradise.”​—Luke 23:43.

8. Why can we be sure that Jehovah will fulfill his purpose?

⁸ Since Jehovah is the all-powerful and all-wise Creator of the universe, no one can thwart his purpose. “Jehovah of armies has sworn, saying: ‘Surely just as I have figured, so it must occur; and just as I have counseled, that is what will come true.’” (Isaiah 14:24) Thus, when God says he will make this earth a paradise inhabited by perfect people, that is what will happen. Jesus said: “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5; compare Psalm 37:29.) We can count on the fulfillment of that promise. In fact, we can stake our lives on it.

They Trusted Jehovah

9. What did Abraham do that showed his trust in Jehovah?

⁹ Many God-fearing people throughout history did stake their lives on God’s purpose for the earth because they were convinced that he would fulfill it. Although their knowledge may have been limited, they trusted God and built their lives on the doing of his will. For instance, there was Abraham, who lived about 2,000 years before Jesus walked the earth​—long before the Bible began to be written. He trusted Jehovah to fulfill His promises. Likely, Abraham learned about the Creator from his faithful ancestor Shem, who was taught by Noah. So when God told Abraham to move out of prosperous Ur of the Chaldeans into the unfamiliar and dangerous land of Canaan, that patriarch knew he could trust Jehovah, and therefore he went. (Hebrews 11:8) In time, Jehovah told him: “I shall make a great nation out of you.”​—Genesis 12:2.

10, 11. Why was Abraham willing to offer up his only-begotten son, Isaac?

¹⁰ What happened after Isaac was born to Abraham? Jehovah indicated to Abraham that it was through Isaac that his descendants would develop into a great nation. (Genesis 21:12) Thus, it must have seemed to be quite a contradiction when Jehovah told Abraham, as a test of his faith, to sacrifice his son Isaac. (Genesis 22:2) Yet, with full trust in Jehovah, Abraham took steps to comply, actually taking up his knife to slaughter Isaac. At the last moment, God sent an angel to restrain Abraham.​—Genesis 22:9-14.

¹¹ Why was Abraham so obedient? Hebrews 11:17-19 reveals: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, as good as offered up Isaac, and the man that had gladly received the promises attempted to offer up his only-begotten son, although it had been said to him: ‘What will be called “your seed” will be through Isaac.’ But he reckoned that God was able to raise him up even from the dead; and from there he did receive him also in an illustrative way.” Romans 4:20, 21 similarly states: “Because of the promise of God [Abraham] did not waver in a lack of faith, . . . being fully convinced that what [God] had promised he was also able to do.”

12. How was Abraham rewarded for his faith?

¹² Abraham was rewarded for his faith not only by the sparing of Isaac and by having a “great nation” come through him but also in another way. God told Abraham: “By means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves due to the fact that you have listened to my voice.” (Genesis 22:18) How? The King of God’s heavenly Kingdom would come through Abraham’s line of descent. That Kingdom would crush out of existence this evil world under Satan. (Daniel 2:44; Romans 16:20; Revelation 19:11-21) Then, in a cleansed earth under Kingdom rule, Paradise would be developed globally, and from “all nations” people who do God’s will would enjoy perfect health and life forever. (1 John 2:15-17) And though Abraham possessed only limited knowledge of the Kingdom, he trusted God and looked forward to its establishment.​—Hebrews 11:10.

13, 14. Why did Job trust God?

¹³ Several hundred years later, there was Job, who lived between the 17th and 16th centuries B.C.E. in what is now Arabia. He too lived before the Bible began to be written. Job “proved to be blameless and upright, and fearing God and turning aside from bad.” (Job 1:1) When Satan inflicted a loathsome, painful disease upon Job, that faithful man “did not utter one sinful word” throughout his ordeal. (Job 2:10, The New English Bible) Job trusted God. And while he did not know the details as to why he was suffering so much, he staked his life on God and His promises.

¹⁴ Job knew that even if he died, God could someday restore him to life by means of the resurrection. He indicated this hope when he said to Jehovah God: “O that in Sheol [the grave] you would conceal me, . . . that you would set a time limit for me and remember me! If an able-bodied man dies can he live again? . . . You will call, and I myself shall answer you.” (Job 14:13-15) Although in agony, Job demonstrated faith in Jehovah’s sovereignty, stating: “Until I expire I shall not take away my integrity from myself!”​—Job 27:5.

15. How did David express his confidence in Jehovah’s purpose?

¹⁵ Some six centuries after Job and about a thousand years before Jesus came to the earth, David expressed his confidence in a new world. He said in the psalms: “Those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth. And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more . . . But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” Because of his unwavering hope, David urged: “Trust in Jehovah . . . Also take exquisite delight in Jehovah, and he will give you the requests of your heart.”​—Psalm 37:3, 4, 9-11, 29.

16. What hope did ‘a great cloud of witnesses’ have?

¹⁶ Down through the centuries, faithful men and women have had this same hope of eternal life on earth. In fact, they made up ‘a great cloud of witnesses’ who very literally staked their lives on Jehovah’s promises. Many of those ancient witnesses of Jehovah were tortured and killed because of their faith, “in order that they might attain a better resurrection.” How so? In the new world, God will reward them with a better resurrection and the prospect of everlasting life.​—John 5:28, 29; Hebrews 11:35; 12:1.

Christian Witnesses Trust in God

17. How firmly did first-century Christians trust Jehovah?

¹⁷ In the first century C.E., Jehovah revealed to the newly established Christian congregation more details about the Kingdom and its rule over the earth. For example, his spirit inspired the apostle John to write that the number to be associated with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of heaven would be 144,000. These would be faithful servants of God who had been “bought from among mankind.” (Revelation 7:4; 14:1-4) They would rule over the earth “as kings” with Christ in heaven. (Revelation 20:4-6) So firmly did those first-century Christians trust Jehovah to fulfill his purpose for the heavenly Kingdom and its earthly domain that they were willing to give up their lives for their faith. Many of them did just that.

18. How do Jehovah’s Witnesses today imitate their counterparts of long ago?

¹⁸ Today, nearly five million Witnesses of Jehovah have the same trust in God as did their counterparts who lived centuries before them. These present-day Witnesses have also staked their lives on God’s promises. They have dedicated their lives to him and have the complete Bible to fortify their faith. (2 Timothy 3:14-17) These modern-day Witnesses of Jehovah imitate Jesus’ first-century followers who declared that they would “obey God as ruler rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) In this century many of these Christian Witnesses have been cruelly persecuted. Some have even been killed for their faith. Others have died from sickness, accident, or old age. Like faithful witnesses of times past, however, they have trusted God because they knew that he would restore them to life in his new world by means of the resurrection.​—John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15; Revelation 20:12, 13.

19, 20. What do we recognize about Bible prophecy for our day?

¹⁹ Jehovah’s Witnesses appreciate that their being brought out of all nations into one global brotherhood was long ago foretold in Bible prophecy. (Isaiah 2:2-4; Revelation 7:4, 9-17) And Jehovah is having them do a worldwide preaching work to gather into his favor and protection still other honesthearted ones. (Proverbs 18:10; Matthew 24:14; Romans 10:13) All of these put their full trust in Jehovah, knowing that he will soon usher in his marvelous new world.​—Compare 1 Corinthians 15:58; Hebrews 6:10.

²⁰ Bible prophecies indicate that Satan’s world has been in its last days for nearly 80 years now, since the pivotal year 1914. This world is nearing its end. (Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:1-5) Jehovah’s Witnesses therefore take heart because they realize that soon God’s Kingdom will assume complete control of all earth’s affairs. By bringing this present evil world to an end and ushering in his righteous new world, God will completely erase the bad situation that has existed on earth for so many centuries.​—Proverbs 2:21, 22.

21. Why can we rejoice regardless of present troubles?

²¹ Then, throughout eternity, God will show his great care for us by showering down blessings that will far more than make up for any hurt that we have received in the past. So many good things will happen to us in the new world that our previous troubles will fade from memory. How comforting to know that Jehovah then will ‘open his hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.’​—Psalm 145:16; Isaiah 65:17, 18.

22. Why should we put our trust in Jehovah?

²² In the new world, faithful mankind will see the fulfillment of Romans 8:21: “The creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.” They will see fulfilled this prayer that Jesus taught his followers: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Matthew 6:10) So put your complete trust in Jehovah because his infallible promise is: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.”​—Psalm 37:29.