Am I Prepared?

[Timl1980]

Friends...I have a feeling that the world is approaching a precipice...like it's being steadily and slowly pushed towards a ledge that overlooks a 1,000-foot drop beneath it.

 

There is no stopping the push...it doesn't matter how hard they struggle or strain against it...the pressure is overwhelming...and inch by inch the world is being forced over the edge of this ledge.

 

As true Christians...we are being dragged along with the rest of the world...but the difference is clear...we have safety nets below...suspended in the air...ready and waiting to catch each and every single one of us as soon the world finally loses all purchase on solid ground and starts to fall...down down down!

 

Yes, we all know that Satan's system is coming to its end...but...are we ready?

 

Not only for the trials...the tribulations...but are we ready...are we truly prepared...to see what happens to those who weren't?

 

The simple truth is...some among us leave Jehovah's organization every year.

 

We don't like to talk about it...it makes us sad...it hurts our hearts...some more than others...but we all feel the sting when a brother or a sister leaves Jehovah and the rest of us behind.

 

I'm only going to touch on one aspect of this harsh reality...because I truly do believe we should focus on the positive. 

 

But I also believe that we should be prepared...and that, my friends...leads me into a point that I found in one of my old Bibles.

 

I was thumbing through the pages of my old Reference Bible when I ran across this point...and I couldn't help it...as I re-read the words I had written so many years ago...a shiver passed through me...and once again I was transported back in time to when I wrote those words in my Bible...and why I wrote them.

 

The scripture?

 

Leviticus 10:3: "Then Moses said to Aaron: “This is what Jehovah has said, ‘I will be made holy among those near to me, and I will be glorified before all the people.’” And Aaron kept silent."

 

The context?

 

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu had just offered illegitimate fire before Jehovah, (most likely while intoxicated), and Jehovah brought forth fire that consumed them...right in front of their father, Aaron.

 

The point?

 

At the end...some people who we think deserve death...may have earned death over and over again in our eyes...may survive and walk into the new system right next to us.

 

And conversely...some who we think of as spiritual paragons...or those very very close to us...our own family even...might very well be literally cut down in front of our eyes.

 

Would I have the ability to remain silent in such a situation?

 

Because my dear brothers and sisters...if you study that verse and this account carefully...you will see that it doesn't just mean Aaron didn't feel pain and anguish at his sons' deaths...he was not allowed to express any of his grief publicly.

 

His silence meant he understood that this judgement came directly from Jehovah...and he knew that it was fully justified.

 

I am not attempting to get anyone to start thinking suspiciously about their brothers and sisters...I am simply pointing out a very real aspect of what is coming...and finding that note has caused me to seriously re-evaluate my preparedness for the time when the world is finally pushed over that ledge.

 

Finding that note has reinforced the main point I learned from this week's Watchtower study...obedience to Jehovah and his organization is what matters in the end...along with our motivations for being obedient. 

[fix it shop]

5 hours ago, Timl1980 said:

Friends...I have a feeling that the world is approaching a precipice...like it's being steadily and slowly pushed towards a ledge that overlooks a 1,000-foot drop beneath it.

 

There is no stopping the push...it doesn't matter how hard they struggle or strain against it...the pressure is overwhelming...and inch by inch the world is being forced over the edge of this ledge.

 

As true Christians...we are being dragged along with the rest of the world...but the difference is clear...we have safety nets below...suspended in the air...ready and waiting to catch each and every single one of us as soon the world finally loses all purchase on solid ground and starts to fall...down down down!

 

Yes, we all know that Satan's system is coming to its end...but...are we ready?

 

Not only for the trials...the tribulations...but are we ready...are we truly prepared...to see what happens to those who weren't?

 

The simple truth is...some among us leave Jehovah's organization every year.

 

We don't like to talk about it...it makes us sad...it hurts our hearts...some more than others...but we all feel the sting when a brother or a sister leaves Jehovah and the rest of us behind.

 

I'm only going to touch on one aspect of this harsh reality...because I truly do believe we should focus on the positive. 

 

But I also believe that we should be prepared...and that, my friends...leads me into a point that I found in one of my old Bibles.

 

I was thumbing through the pages of my old Reference Bible when I ran across this point...and I couldn't help it...as I re-read the words I had written so many years ago...a shiver passed through me...and once again I was transported back in time to when I wrote those words in my Bible...and why I wrote them.

 

The scripture?

 

Leviticus 10:3: "Then Moses said to Aaron: “This is what Jehovah has said, ‘I will be made holy among those near to me, and I will be glorified before all the people.’” And Aaron kept silent."

 

The context?

 

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu had just offered illegitimate fire before Jehovah, (most likely while intoxicated), and Jehovah brought forth fire that consumed them...right in front of their father, Aaron.

 

The point?

 

At the end...some people who we think deserve death...may have earned death over and over again in our eyes...may survive and walk into the new system right next to us.

 

And conversely...some who we think of as spiritual paragons...or those very very close to us...our own family even...might very well be literally cut down in front of our eyes.

 

Would I have the ability to remain silent in such a situation?

 

Because my dear brothers and sisters...if you study that verse and this account carefully...you will see that it doesn't just mean Aaron didn't feel pain and anguish at his sons' deaths...he was not allowed to express any of his grief publicly.

 

His silence meant he understood that this judgement came directly from Jehovah...and he knew that it was fully justified.

 

I am not attempting to get anyone to start thinking suspiciously about their brothers and sisters...I am simply pointing out a very real aspect of what is coming...and finding that note has caused me to seriously re-evaluate my preparedness for the time when the world is finally pushed over that ledge.

 

Finding that note has reinforced the main point I learned from this week's Watchtower study...obedience to Jehovah and his organization is what matters in the end...along with our motivations for being obedient. 

Brother , you are ahead of the curve ! That's great . I force myself to let go alot of excess material things and time wasters. When I go walking every day I look at the flowers ,birds , insects , these and other Jehovah's creations will be in the new system .We need to remember " No One Left Behind .      Thank you brother for caring ,        wesley

[Kyria]

This reminds me of 2 Timothy 2:19. "Jehovah knows those who belong to him". There is no question to that. When we get to that moment in time I will say "see you all on the other side dear friends" ☺️x

[fix it shop]

3 hours ago, Kyria said:

This reminds me of 2 Timothy 2:19. "Jehovah knows those who belong to him". There is no question to that. When we get to that moment in time I will say "see you all on the other side dear friends" ☺️x

See you Too .        Care

[fix it shop]

4 hours ago, Kyria said:

This reminds me of 2 Timothy 2:19. "Jehovah knows those who belong to him". There is no question to that. When we get to that moment in time I will say "see you all on the other side dear friends" ☺️x

Dear sister : I would say you are aways prepared - you set the standard of excellence  in this because you care and you show love to everyone ..................Care

[jdcarlson]

There have been other threads about ones who abandoned Jehovah.

 

Many of us have known some of these.

 

On occasion it has been individuals who had significant privileges in Jehovah's Organization.

 

But, all of these occasions cause sadness to us. We hate to see anyone lose love for Jehovah or abandon him

 

I have had ones close to me who either (1) lost significant privileges of service (although they did not abandon Jehovah) or (2) abandoned Jehovah's organization.  One of these was a physical relative with whom I had been especially close for 25 years. Another one was a person with whom I had studied many years ago, and who went on to serve at Bethel for several years.

 

Both of these made me very sad.

 

At least the one to whom I was physically related, and with whom I had been especially close for 25 years, did not let his loss of privileges cause him to abandon Jehovah. He has "passed on" but I can have the hope to see him after the resurrection and again enjoy the close relationship we once had.

 

Any of us who have "lost" those close to us to Satan's system (for whatever reason) feel sadness. But, like Aaron, we cannot do anything to change what someone else has done (or what happens as a result). Aaron showed significant devotion to Jehovah in that he continued to serve Jehovah as well as he could. We know it had to be extremely difficult for him personally. But, he did not let personal difficulty over the situation diminish his service to Jehovah.

 

I appreciate this thread calling our attention to the difficulties Aaron faced. It is an aspect of his devotion that we may not have thought about before (I, for one, had not thought about the account this deeply). We know Aaron was not perfect, but in this instance, despite the difficulty, he showed his devotion to Jehovah.

 

Thanks,

 

Jim

[fix it shop]

On 9/24/2024 at 6:30 AM, Kyria said:

This reminds me of 2 Timothy 2:19. "Jehovah knows those who belong to him". There is no question to that. When we get to that moment in time I will say "see you all on the other side dear friends" ☺️x. Come over you all. French bread out of the oven with butter !!!   yea

 

[bystander]

I've been prepared for years. Bring it. I'm getting old. 

[fix it shop]

1 minute ago, bystander said:

I've been prepared for years. Bring it. I'm getting old. 

In the dictionary under the definition of old  they ( Websters) put " my picture "  next to Rip Van 

Winkle . Tisk tisk . I agree.      Bring it on !!!!!!!!!!!!