Thanks for your response Deeje. I always like hearing from you.
One reason, you make sensible comments. Another, after studying most of the Christian religions, I have found that JW probably my favorite.
Thanks Gerry, I really appreciate that.
But, I cannot get to the belief of humans in our material bodies inheriting an eternal earth. Just doesn’t make sense to me.
I have been doing a lot of research on stem cell therapy lately and it has explained a lot to me concerning the human body's ability to renew and regenerate itself. This therapy is proving that it is possible for the body to heal itself with a very simple procedure.
Nature also demonstrates its ability to keep recycling and regenerating....and has been doing so for eons of time.
When you read Genesis, you see that death is not even mentioned for humankind *except* as a penalty for disobedience. That means....if the first humans had obeyed God's command not to eat of that one fruit in the garden, they would never have experienced the penalty......loss of God's favour, loss of physical perfection, degeneration and death. And knowing how the body is designed to renew and regenerate itself perpetually, it is not hard to see how God's first purpose, (to have a race of creatures, reflecting his qualities, to act as his representatives on earth) was to keep them alive to carry that out forever. He provided the means to do so...."the tree of life" was there to partake of freely, but after the pair had disobeyed, access to this means to keep them alive, was barred. (Genesis 3:3; 20-24) They never got it back.
I believe God made us in His image, which is spiritual in nature.
That is our image (male and female are irrelevant). Why would we desire or need a material body or planet forever?
Jehovah is a creator. It is obvious from the scriptures that he has a spiritual family already. There are millions of spirit sons, who inhabit the realm where he resides.....so why would he need more? Why would he create lower creatures to inhabit a material planet, only to have them die in order to go to heaven? That would make no sense to me. We are material beings with a spiritual nature. We are not designed to die, but made for a whole other life.
This material part of creation is an extension of God's creativity and love. You only have to look at the amazing variety of living things on this earth to understand how he loves to create....and look at the vastness of his universe! What if he has in mind to inhabit millions of other planets with living things? As you said, he has no limits.
It would make sense to me that, if this planet is the beginning of his material ventures, then his sovereignty is paramount as a platform for all future creation. If he doesn't get things sorted here first, as regards humans made in his image respecting his laws, the proper use of free will, and setting precedents for all creation to come, then there is no point in taking it further until that is accomplished. His angelic sons are included in this exercise because the first rebel was an angel.
Don't forget that this deceitful enemy is out to obscure God's purpose and make a nonsense out of worshiping a God that requires obedience. This enemy promotes everything that God hates. It was he who deceived the woman into taking something that was forbidden to them, and she in turn tempted her husband into rebellion as well. Free will was corrupted by deception and selfishness. This all had to be settled because, unless it was, free will would be a curse instead of the blessing it was meant to be.
Second problem with JW, they make you knock on people’s doors and I’m a bit introverted.
I understand. But you know something funny....? Just about everyone who has studied the Bible with us, says that the preaching work is something they could never do.....but something amazing happens when God's spirit is involved.
Jesus told his disciples that 'the gospel' would be preached in all the world (Matthew24:14)...this wasn't an option for them, but rather it was actually a command. He said...
."Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Since Jesus said that he would be "with" his disciples in this work, then he would provide the means to carry it out. As the one who could pass on God's spirit to others, it is this powerful force that overcomes any human tendency to shrink back in fear.
To give you a personal example (one of many)......
I had a lady who was living in a small country town. She too was a little introverted and said she could never go out preaching, especially in her small community, so I invited her to go out preaching in a larger town nearby. She nervously accepted. After a morning of warm conversations with quite a few people, she was all fired up. She asked if we could go out again the next day....this time in her small town. Such is the power of God's spirit. It is his work, not ours.
I believe that God can give us, not only the knowledge to preach one united message all over the world, but also give us the courage to do a very unnatural thing. Most people are not as negative as you might think. We don't expect all to be kind, and I have encountered some very nasty people, (John 15:18-21) but for the most part we are not there to argue, we are there to impart a message of peace and hope for the future.
In line with what Jesus said in Matthew 10:11-15....
11 “Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving, and stay there until you leave. 12 When you enter the house, greet the household. 13 If the house is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it; but if it is not deserving, let the peace from you return upon you. 14 Wherever anyone does not receive you or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I say to you, it will be more endurable for the land of Sodʹom and Go·morʹrah on Judgment Day than for that city."
We are to search for those who are searching for God....just as Jesus did. He didn't say to search for those who have already made up their minds.....but he went to the "lost sheep", understanding why they were lost. I believe that God helps us to find lost sheep too.