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CHAPTER NINETEEN Remain in God’s Love What does it mean to love God? How can we remain in God’s love? How will Jehovah reward those who remain in his love? Where can we find a safe refuge today? PICTURE yourself walking along a road on a stormy day. The sky becomes darker. Lightning starts to flash, thunder booms, then rain falls in torrents. You hurry along, desperately looking for a refuge. There, by the roadside, you see a shelter. It is sturdy, dry, and inviting. How you value that safe place! 2 We are living in stormy times. World conditions are going from bad to worse. But there is a secure shelter, a refuge that can keep us safe from permanent harm. What is it? Note what the Bible teaches: “I will say to Jehovah: ‘You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God, in whom I will trust.’” How can we make Jehovah our refuge? 3 Imagine that! Jehovah, the Creator and Sovereign of the universe, can be our protective refuge. He can keep us safe, for he is far more powerful than anyone or anything that may come against us. Even if we are harmed, Jehovah can undo all the bad effects. How can we make Jehovah our refuge? We need to trust in him. Furthermore, God’s Word urges us: “Keep yourselves in God’s love.” (Jude 21) Yes, we need to remain in God’s love, maintaining a loving bond with our heavenly Father. Then we may rest assured that he is our refuge. But how can we form such a bond? RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO GOD’S LOVE What are some of the ways that Jehovah has expressed love for us? 4 To remain in God’s love, we need to appreciate how Jehovah has shown his love for us. Think of some of the Bible teachings you have learned with the aid of this book. As the Creator, Jehovah has given us the earth as our delightful home. He has filled it with abundant food and water, natural resources, fascinating animal life, and beautiful scenery. As the Author of the Bible, God has revealed his name and his qualities to us. Moreover, his Word reveals that he sent his own beloved Son to the earth, allowing Jesus to suffer and die for us. (John 3:16) And what does that gift mean for us? It gives us hope for a wonderful future. 5 Our hope for the future also depends on something else that God has done. Jehovah has established a heavenly government, the Messianic Kingdom. It will soon bring an end to all suffering and will make the earth a paradise. Just think! We can live there in peace and happiness forever. (Psalm 37:29) Meanwhile, God has given us guidance on how to live in the best way possible right now. He has also given us the gift of prayer, an open line of communication with him. These are just a few of the ways that Jehovah has shown love for mankind in general and for you as an individual. How might you respond to the love that Jehovah has shown you? 6 The vital question for you to consider is this: How will I respond to Jehovah’s love? Many will say, “Well, I need to love Jehovah in return.” Is that how you feel? Jesus said that this command is the greatest of all: “You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.” (Matthew 22:37) You certainly have many reasons to love Jehovah God. But is feeling that you have such love all that is involved in loving Jehovah with your whole heart, soul, and mind? Is there more to loving God than simply experiencing a feeling? Explain. 7 As described in the Bible, love for God is much more than a feeling. In fact, although the feeling of love for Jehovah is essential, that feeling is just the beginning of real love for him. An apple seed is essential to the development of a fruit-bearing apple tree. If you wanted an apple, however, would you be content if someone merely handed you an apple seed? Hardly! Similarly, a feeling of love for Jehovah God is only a start. The Bible teaches: “This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) To be genuine, love for God must bear fine fruit. It must be expressed in actions. How can we express our love and appreciation for God? 8 We show our love for God when we observe his commandments and apply his principles. It is not too hard to do so. Far from being burdensome, Jehovah’s laws are designed to help us live a good, happy, satisfying life. (Isaiah 48:17, 18) By living in harmony with Jehovah’s guidance, we show our heavenly Father that we truly appreciate all that he has done for us. Sadly, too few in today’s world show such appreciation. We do not want to be unappreciative, like some people who lived when Jesus was on earth. Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one turned back to thank him. (Luke 17:12-17) Surely we would want to be like the grateful one, not the ungrateful nine! 9 What, then, are Jehovah’s commandments that we need to observe? We have discussed a number of them in this book, but let us review a few. Observing God’s commandments will help us to remain in God’s love. DRAW EVER CLOSER TO JEHOVAH Explain why it is important to continue taking in knowledge about Jehovah God. 10 Learning about Jehovah is a vital step in drawing closer to him. It is a process that should never stop. If you were outside on a very cold night warming yourself by a fire, would you let the flames dwindle and then die out? You would keep adding fuel to keep the fire burning bright and hot. Your very life might be at stake! As wood fuels a fire, so “the very knowledge of God” keeps our love for Jehovah strong. What effect did Jesus’ teaching have on his followers? 11 Jesus wanted his followers to keep their love for Jehovah and for His precious Word of truth alive and burning brightly. After his resurrection, Jesus taught two of his disciples about some of the prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures that were fulfilled in him. What was the effect? They later said: “Were not our hearts burning as he was speaking to us on the road, as he was fully opening up the Scriptures to us?” (a) Among the majority of mankind today, what has happened to love for God and for the Bible? (b) How can we prevent our love from cooling off? 12 When you first learned what the Bible really teaches, did you find that your heart began to burn with joy, zeal, and love for God? No doubt you did. Many have felt the same way. The challenge now is to keep that intense love alive and to help it grow. We do not want to follow the trend of today’s world. Jesus foretold: “The love of the greater number will cool off.” (Matthew 24:12) How can you prevent your love for Jehovah and for Bible truths from cooling off? 13 Keep taking in knowledge of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. (John 17:3) Meditate, or think deeply, on what you learn from God’s Word, asking yourself: ‘What does this teach me about Jehovah God? What further reason does it give me to love him with my whole heart, mind, and soul?’ (1 Timothy 4:15) Such meditation will keep your love for Jehovah burning brightly. How can prayer help us to keep our love for Jehovah alive? 14 Another way to keep your love for Jehovah burning brightly is to pray regularly. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) In Chapter 17 of this book, we learned that prayer is a precious gift from God. Just as human relationships thrive on regular, open communication, so our relationship with Jehovah stays warm and alive when we pray to him regularly. It is vital that we never let our prayers become mechanical FIND JOY IN YOUR WORSHIP Why may we rightly view the Kingdom-preaching work as a privilege and a treasure? 15 Personal Bible study and prayer are acts of worship that we may carry out in private. Now, however, let us consider an aspect of worship that we carry out publicly: speaking to others about our beliefs. Have you already shared some Bible truths with others? If so, you have enjoyed a wonderful privilege. (Luke 1:74) When we share the truths we have learned about Jehovah God, we are taking up a very important assignment given to all true Christians 16 The apostle Paul viewed his ministry as something precious, calling it a treasure. (2 Corinthians 4:7) Talking to people about Jehovah God and his purposes is the best work you could do. It is service to the best Master, and it brings the best benefits possible. By engaging in this activity, you are helping honesthearted people to draw close to our heavenly Father and to get on the road to everlasting life! What work could be more satisfying? Furthermore, witnessing about Jehovah and his Word increases your own faith and strengthens your love for him. And Jehovah appreciates your efforts. (Hebrews 6:10) Staying busy in such work helps you to remain in God’s love. Why is the Christian ministry urgent today? 17 It is important to remember that the Kingdom-preaching work is urgent. The Bible says: “Preach the word, be at it urgently.” (2 Timothy 4:2) Why is doing this so urgent today? God’s Word tells us: “The great day of Jehovah is near. It is near, and there is a hurrying of it very much.” (Zephaniah 1:14) Yes, the time is coming quickly when Jehovah will bring this whole system of things to its end. People need to be warned! They need to know that now is the time to choose Jehovah as their Sovereign. The end “will not be late.” Why should we worship Jehovah publicly in association with true Christians? 18 Jehovah wants us to worship him publicly in association with true Christians. That is why his Word says: “Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24, 25) When we gather with fellow believers at Christian meetings, we have a wonderful opportunity to praise and worship our beloved God. We also build one another up and encourage one another. How can we work to strengthen the bonds of love in the Christian congregation? 19 As we associate with other worshipers of Jehovah, we strengthen the bonds of love and friendship in the congregation. It is important that we look for the good in one another, as Jehovah looks for the good in us. Do not expect perfection from your fellow believers. Remember that all are at different stages of spiritual growth and that every one of us makes mistakes. (Colossians 3:13) Seek to build close friendships with those who love Jehovah intensely, and you will find yourself growing spiritually. Yes, worshiping Jehovah with your spiritual brothers and sisters will help you to remain in God’s love. How does Jehovah reward those who worship him faithfully and thus remain in his love? REACH OUT FOR “THE REAL LIFE” What is “the real life,” and why is it a wonderful hope? 20 Jehovah rewards his faithful servants with life, but life of what kind? Well, are you really living now? Most of us would say that the answer is obvious. After all, we breathe, we eat, and we drink. Surely we must be living. And in our happier moments, we may even say, “Now this is really living!” However, the Bible indicates that in an important sense, no human today is really living. 21 God’s Word urges us to “get a firm hold on the real life.” (1 Timothy 6:19) Those words indicate that “the real life” is something we hope to attain in the future. Yes, when we are perfect, we will be alive in the fullest sense of the word, for we will be living as God originally intended us to live. When we are living on a paradise earth in complete health, peace, and happiness, we will at last enjoy “the real life” How can you “get a firm hold on the real life”? 22 How can we “get a firm hold on the real life”? In the same context, Paul urged Christians “to work at good” and “to be rich in fine works.” (1 Timothy 6:18) Clearly, then, much depends on how we apply the truths we have learned from the Bible. But did Paul mean that we earn “the real life” by performing good works? No, for such marvelous prospects really depend on our receiving “undeserved kindness” from God. (Romans 5:15) However, Jehovah delights in rewarding those who serve him faithfully. He wants to see you live “the real life.” Such a happy, peaceful, everlasting life lies ahead for those who remain in God’s love. Why is it essential to remain in God’s love? 23 Each of us does well to ask himself, ‘Am I worshiping God in the way he has set out in the Bible?’ If we make sure, day by day, that the answer is yes, then we are on the right path. We can be confident that Jehovah is our refuge. He will keep his faithful people safe through the last troubled days of this old system of things. Jehovah will also deliver us into the glorious new system of things now near. How thrilled we will be to see that time! And how delighted we will be that we made the right choices during these last days! If you make such choices now, you will enjoy “the real life,” life as Jehovah God meant it to be, throughout all eternity!
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DEVETNAESTO POGLAVLJE Održi se u Božjoj ljubavi! Što znači ljubiti Boga? Kako se možemo održati u Božjoj ljubavi? Kako će Jehova nagraditi one koji se održe u njegovoj ljubavi? Gdje danas možemo naći sigurno utočište? ZAMISLI da ideš putem, a sprema se oluja. Nebo se smračuje. Munje bljeskaju, gromovi tutnje i počinje pljusak. Žuriš, očajnički tražeći zaklon. Tada uz put ugledaš neko skrovište. Sigurno je, suho i privlačno. Zar ne bi itekako cijenio to utočište? 2 Mi živimo u olujnim vremenima. Stanje u svijetu sve je gore. No ima jedan siguran zaklon, utočište koje nas može zaštititi od trajne opasnosti. O čemu je riječ? Zapazi što Biblija uči: “Reći ću Jehovi: ‘Ti si utočište moje i tvrđava moja, Bog moj, u kojega ću se uzdati’” (Psalam 91:2). Kako Jehovu možemo učiniti svojim utočištem? 3 Zamisli! Jehova, Stvoritelj i Vladar svemira, može biti naša zaštita i utočište. Može nam pružiti sigurnost jer je puno moćniji od bilo koga i bilo čega što nam može nauditi. Čak i ako nam bude naneseno zlo, Jehova nam sve to može nadoknaditi. Kako Jehovu možemo učiniti svojim utočištem? Moramo se uzdati u njega. Osim toga, Božja Riječ nas potiče: “Održite se u ljubavi Božjoj!” (Juda 21). Da, trebamo se održati u Božjoj ljubavi, sačuvati ljubav koja nas povezuje s našim nebeskim Ocem. Tada možemo biti uvjereni da je on naše utočište. No kako možemo razviti takav odnos? KAKO ZNAMO DA NAS BOG LJUBI I KAKO MU MOŽEMO UZVRATITI LJUBAV Na koje je načine Jehova pokazao da nas ljubi? 4 Da bismo se održali u Božjoj ljubavi, trebamo razumjeti kako je Jehova dokazao da nas ljubi. Prisjeti se nekih biblijskih učenja koja si saznao uz pomoć ove knjige. Kao Stvoritelj, Jehova nam je dao Zemlju, naš lijepi dom. Dobili smo obilje hrane i vode, prirodna bogatstva, zadivljujući životinjski svijet i prekrasan okoliš. Kao Autor Biblije, Bog nam je otkrio svoje ime i osobine. Osim toga, njegova Riječ pokazuje da je poslao svog ljubljenog Sina Isusa na Zemlju i dozvolio da pati i umre za nas (Ivan 3:16). Što nam je time omogućio? Nadu u divnu budućnost. 5 Naša nada za budućnost ovisi o još nečemu što je Bog učinio. Jehova je na nebu uspostavio Mesijansko Kraljevstvo. Ono će uskoro iskorijeniti svu patnju i Zemlju pretvoriti u raj. Zamisli! Tada ćemo zauvijek živjeti u miru i sreći (Psalam 37:29). Dok se to ne ostvari, Bog nam pruža vodstvo da bismo već sada živjeli na najbolji način. Isto tako, omogućuje nam da putem molitve otvoreno komuniciramo s njim. To su samo neki od načina na koje je Jehova pokazao da ljubi ljude općenito, a i tebe osobno. Kako Jehovi možeš uzvratiti za ljubav koju je pokazao? 6 Jako je važno da se upitaš: Kako ću Jehovi uzvratiti za ljubav koju je pokazao? Mnogi će nato reći: “Pa i ja moram voljeti Jehovu.” Misliš li i ti tako? Isus je rekao da je najveća od svih zapovijedi ova: “Ljubi Jehovu, Boga svojega, svim srcem svojim i svom dušom svojom i svim umom svojim!” (Matej 22:37). Nesumnjivo imaš mnogo razloga da ljubiš Jehovu Boga. No je li dovoljno samo osjećati tu ljubav, pa da možeš reći kako ljubiš Jehovu svim svojim srcem, dušom i umom? Je li dovoljno samo osjećati ljubav prema Bogu? Objasni. 7 Kao što Biblija pokazuje, ljubav prema Bogu puno je više od osjećaja. Ustvari, iako je neophodno osjećati ljubav prema Jehovi, to je tek početak onoga što prava ljubav prema njemu obuhvaća. Bez sjemenke jabuke ne bi moglo narasti plodno stablo. Međutim, kad bi želio jabuku, bi li bio zadovoljan da ti netko da samo njezinu sjemenku? Naravno da ne bi! Slično tome, osjećaj ljubavi prema Jehovi Bogu samo je početak. Biblija naučava: “Ljubiti Boga znači držati zapovijedi njegove, a zapovijedi njegove nisu teške” (1. Ivanova 5:3). Ljubav prema Bogu istinska je tek onda kad donosi dobar plod. Mora se pokazivati djelima (Matej 7:16-20). Kako možemo pokazivati ljubav i zahvalnost Bogu? 8 Ljubav prema Bogu pokazujemo time što držimo njegove zapovijedi i primjenjujemo njegova načela. To nije preteško. Jehovini zakoni nisu teret, već nam pomažu da vodimo dobar, sretan i smislen život (Izaija 48:17, 18). Kad živimo u skladu s njegovim vodstvom, svom nebeskom Ocu pokazujemo da uistinu cijenimo sve što je učinio za nas. Nažalost, danas vrlo malo ljudi pokazuje takvo cijenjenje. Mi ne želimo biti nezahvalni poput nekih koji su živjeli dok je Isus bio na Zemlji. On je jednom izliječio deset gubavaca, ali samo jedan se vratio da mu se zahvali (Luka 17:12-17). Mi sigurno želimo biti poput tog zahvalnog čovjeka, a ne poput devet nezahvalnika! 9 Koje Jehovine zapovijedi trebamo držati? U ovoj knjizi naveli smo mnoge od njih, no osvrnimo se na još neke. Držanje Božjih zapovijedi pomoći će nam da se održimo u njegovoj ljubavi. PRIBLIŽI SE JEHOVI Objasni zašto je važno nastaviti upoznavati Jehovu Boga. Da bismo se približili Jehovi, moramo učiti o njemu. To je proces koji stalno traje. Zamisli da se nalaziš vani za jako hladne noći i da se griješ uz vatru. Bi li pustio da vatra oslabi i ugasi se? Ne bi. Dodavao bi drva da ostane jaka i da te grije jer tvoj život može doći u pitanje! Kao što se vatra održava dodavanjem drva, tako “znanje o Bogu” održava i jača našu ljubav prema Jehovi (Mudre izreke 2:1-5). Kako je Isusovo poučavanje utjecalo na njegove sljedbenike? Isus je želio da njegovi sljedbenici sačuvaju ljubav prema Jehovi i Njegovoj dragocjenoj Riječi istine te da ta ljubav ostane jaka. Nakon svog uskrsnuća dvojici svojih učenika skrenuo je pažnju na neka proročanstva iz hebrejskog dijela Biblije (takozvanog Starog zavjeta) koja su se ispunila na njemu. Kako je to utjecalo na njih? Kasnije su rekli: “Nije li nam srce gorjelo dok nam je putem govorio, dok nam je tumačio Pisma?” (Luka 24:32). (a) Kakva je kod većine današnjih ljudi ljubav prema Bogu i Bibliji? (b) Što možemo učiniti da naša ljubav ne ohladni? Kad si prvi put čuo što Biblija doista uči, jesi li osjetio da ti je srce prepuno sreće, oduševljenja i ljubavi prema Bogu? Sigurno jesi. Mnogi su to osjetili. No pred nama stoji izazov da sačuvamo tu žarku ljubav i pobrinemo se da raste. Mi ne želimo biti poput većine današnjih ljudi. Isus je prorekao: ‘Kod većine će ohladnjeti ljubav’ (Matej 24:12). Što možeš poduzeti da tvoja ljubav prema Jehovi i biblijskim istinama ne ohladni? Uči o Jehovi Bogu i Isusu Kristu (Ivan 17:3). Duboko razmišljaj o onom što saznaš iz Božje Riječi i pitaj se: ‘Što mi to govori o Jehovi Bogu? Kako mi i to pomaže da ga ljubim svim srcem, umom i dušom?’ (1. Timoteju 4:15). Takvo razmišljanje pomaže ti da jačaš svoju ljubav prema Jehovi. Kako nam molitva pomaže da naša ljubav prema Jehovi ostane jaka? I redovita molitva pomaže nam da naša ljubav prema Jehovi ostane jaka (1. Solunjanima 5:17). U sedamnaestom poglavlju ove knjige saznali smo da je molitva dragocjen Božji dar. Kao što redovita, otvorena komunikacija poboljšava odnose među ljudima, tako redovita molitva pomaže da održavamo i jačamo svoj odnos s Jehovom. Nikada ne smijemo dozvoliti da naše molitve postanu mehaničke — riječi koje rutinski ponavljamo uvijek iznova bez ikakvog osjećaja i smisla. Jehovi se trebamo obraćati kao što se dijete obraća voljenom ocu. To, dakako, trebamo činiti s poštovanjem, ali i otvoreno, iskreno te od srca (Psalam 62:8). Da, osobno proučavanje Biblije i iskrena molitva bitan su dio našeg obožavanja Boga i pomažu nam da se održimo u njegovoj ljubavi. PRONAĆI RADOST U SLUŽENJU BOGU Zašto propovijedanje o Kraljevstvu s pravom možemo smatrati čašću i blagom? Osobno proučavanje Biblije i molitva dio su naše službe Bogu koji možemo obavljati nasamo. Međutim, osvrnimo se na jedno obilježje naše službe Bogu koje izvršavamo javno — kada drugima govorimo o svojim vjerovanjima. Jesi li već razgovarao s drugima o nekim biblijskim istinama? Ako jesi, imao si čast biti u službi koju nam je Jehova dao (Luka 1:74). Kad drugima prenosimo istine koje saznamo o Jehovi Bogu, izvršavamo vrlo važan zadatak koji su dobili svi pravi kršćani — propovijedamo dobru vijest o Božjem Kraljevstvu (Matej 24:14; 28:19, 20). Apostol Pavao svoju je službu smatrao nečim dragocjenim, nazvao ju je blagom (2. Korinćanima 4:7). Govoriti ljudima o Jehovi Bogu i njegovim naumima najbolji je zadatak koji možeš obavljati. Služiš najboljem Gospodaru i tvoj ti zadatak donosi najbolju nagradu. Obavljajući ga, pomažeš osobama iskrenog srca da se približe našem nebeskom Ocu i krenu putem koji vodi u vječni život! Koji bi posao mogao donijeti veće zadovoljstvo? Osim toga, kad svjedočiš o Jehovi i njegovoj Riječi, raste tvoja vjera i jača tvoja ljubav prema njemu. Jehova cijeni tvoj trud (Hebrejima 6:10). Marljivo obavljaj taj zadatak jer će ti to pomoći da se održiš u Božjoj ljubavi! Korinćanima 15:58). Zašto je potrebno bez odgađanja propovijedati? Ne smijemo zaboraviti da trebamo bez odgađanja propovijedati o Kraljevstvu. Biblija kaže: “Propovijedaj riječ Božju i čini to s osjećajem hitnosti” (2. Timoteju 4:2). Zašto je to toliko hitno? Božja Riječ nam kaže: “Blizu je veliki dan Jehovin. Blizu je i ide vrlo brzo” (Sefanija 1:14). Da, sve je bliže čas kada će Jehova uništiti čitav ovaj zli svijet. Ljude treba upozoriti! Oni trebaju znati da je sada vrijeme da Jehovu odaberu za svog Vladara. Kraj “neće zakasniti” (Habakuk 2:3). Zašto trebamo obožavati Jehovu sastajući se s pravim kršćanima? Jehova želi da ga obožavamo zajedno s ostalim pravim kršćanima. Zato njegova Riječ kaže: “Razmišljajmo jedni o drugima, kako bismo se poticali na ljubav i dobra djela, i ne propuštajmo svoje sastanke, kao što neki imaju običaj, nego hrabrimo jedni druge, tim više što vidite da se približava dan” (Hebrejima 10:24, 25). Kad se sa suvjernicima sastajemo na kršćanskim sastancima, imamo divnu priliku hvaliti i slaviti našeg Boga kojeg ljubimo. Tada ujedno izgrađujemo i hrabrimo jedni druge. Što možemo činiti da bi u kršćanskoj skupštini rasla ljubav? Kada se sastajemo s drugim Jehovinim slugama, raste ljubav i prijateljstvo koje povezuje skupštinu. Važno je da tražimo dobro jedni u drugima jer i Jehova traži dobro u nama. Ne očekuj savršenstvo od suvjernika. Imaj na umu da nismo svi jednako duhovno napredovali i da svi činimo greške (Kološanima 3:13). Gradi blisko prijateljstvo s onima koji svim srcem ljube Jehovu i duhovno ćeš rasti. Da, kad služiš Jehovi s braćom i sestrama u vjeri, to će ti pomoći da se održiš u Božjoj ljubavi. A kako Jehova nagrađuje one koji mu vjerno služe i ostaju u njegovoj ljubavi? OSVOJI “PRAVI ŽIVOT” Što je “pravi život”, i zašto je to divna nada? Jehova svoje vjerne sluge nagrađuje životom. No kakav je to život? Zar i sada nemamo život? Većina bi sigurno rekla da imamo. Na kraju krajeva, dišemo, jedemo, pijemo. Naravno da živimo. A kad doživimo nešto posebno radosno, možda čak kažemo: “To je život!” Međutim, Biblija pokazuje da danas nijedan čovjek nema pravi život u punom smislu te riječi. Božja Riječ nas potiče da ‘osvojimo pravi život’ (1. Timoteju 6:19). Te riječi pokazuju da je “pravi život” nešto što očekujemo u budućnosti. Da, kad budemo savršeni, živjet ćemo u punom smislu te riječi jer će naš život izgledati onako kako je to Bog u početku naumio. Kad na rajskoj Zemlji budemo živjeli potpuno zdravi, u miru i sretni, napokon ćemo imati “pravi život” — vječni život (1. Timoteju 6:12). Nije li to divna nada? Kako možeš ‘osvojiti pravi život’? Kako možemo ‘osvojiti pravi život’? Pavao je u povezanosti s tim poticao kršćane “da čine dobro” i “da se bogate dobrim djelima” (1. Timoteju 6:18). Dakle, očito je da mnogo ovisi o tome kako primjenjujemo istine koje smo saznali iz Biblije. No je li Pavao mislio da “pravi život” možemo zaraditi time što činimo dobra djela? Nije, jer ta predivna budućnost zapravo ovisi o Božjoj ‘nezasluženoj dobroti’ (Rimljanima 5:15). A Jehova se raduje kad može nagraditi one koji mu vjerno služe. On želi da osvojiš “pravi život”. Takav sretan, vječni život prožet mirom mogu dobiti oni koji se održe u Božjoj ljubavi. Zašto je vrlo važno održati se u Božjoj ljubavi? Svi se trebamo upitati: ‘Obožavam li Boga onako kako je on to rekao u Bibliji?’ Ako se svaki dan preispitamo i uvjerimo da to činimo, onda smo na pravom putu. Možemo biti sigurni da je Jehova naše utočište. On će svoj vjerni narod sačuvati tokom teških posljednjih dana ovog starog svijeta. Jehova će nas također uvesti u veličanstveni novi svijet koji je sada tako blizu. Koliko ćemo samo biti oduševljeni kad to doživimo! A koliko ćemo tek biti presretni što smo tokom ovih posljednjih dana donijeli ispravne odluke! Ako ih sada doneseš, imat ćeš “pravi život”, život kakav je Jehova Bog zamislio, i to u svu vječnost!