Tuesday, April 21 I will come again and will receive you home to myself.​—John 14:3.

[Áine]

Tuesday, April 21

I will come again and will receive you home to myself.—John 14:3.

 

Only genuine, faithful anointed ones will be received by Jesus into the heavenly Kingdom. Any anointed ones who do not remain spiritually alert will not be gathered with the “chosen ones.” (Matt. 24:31) By extension, all of God’s people, regardless of their hope, should view Jesus’ words as a warning to keep on the watch and remain faithful. We have come to know Jehovah well, so we trust his judgment. We are not concerned if Jehovah has chosen to anoint some faithful ones in more recent years. We recall what Jesus said about the 11th-hour workers in his illustration of the vineyard. (Matt. 20:1-16) Those who were invited to work in the vineyard later in the day received the same wage as those who began working in it earlier. Likewise, no matter when anointed ones are selected, they will receive the heavenly reward if they are judged faithful. w24.09 24 ¶15-17

[Brad Smith]

[dljbsp]

This says something about the kind of heart behind Jehovah’s purpose. He is not gathering people into some abstract arrangement. He is drawing faithful ones into closeness, into belonging, into a place already prepared in love. That makes faithfulness feel less like just enduring and more like staying close to a promise that is alive. Not vague. Not symbolic in some soft way. Personal. Intentional. Certain.